The secretary to the Commission of Inquiry into the creation of new regions, Mr. Jacob Saah has revealed that no writ has been served on the commission regarding its public hearings on the proposed new region in the northern part of the Volta region.

Mr. Saah was reacting to reports of a supposed lawsuit filed at an Accra Human Rights High Court against the Commission and two others, by some aggrieved individuals challenging its decision to exclude the southern part of the Region from the public consultations on the proposed region.

He told journalists at the final public hearings held at Nsuta Buem in the Jasikan district over the weekend that, “We only heard in the press that, the commission has been sued, the writ has not been served on us, so we have not seen it. When we get the writ, we’ll look at it and what is required of us to do legally, we will do.”

Mr. Saah indicated that, the commission prior to its encounter in the Volta region, received a letter from a counsel for some persons raising issues with the venues for its public hearing in the region, to which it responded appropriately.

The Justice Brobbey chaired nine-member Commission in the past week held public hearings at Ho, the regional capital, Kete-Krachi, Nkwanta, Kpassa and Nsuta all in northern Volta, to solicit views on a proposed region to be created in that enclave following a petition submitted to the President of the Republic by some chiefs and opinion leaders in the area.

However, the suit filed by Chief of Srogboe, Togbui Patamia the IV and one other, stated that the decision to hold public hearings into the creation of the new region in the Volta Region only in the Northern part save for Ho, the regional capital infringed on the fundamental human rights of the applicants as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.

They therefore prayed the court to compel the commission and the two other respondents to extend public hearings into the matter of the creation of the new region in the Volta Region to the South.

Fact Finding

Commission chairman, Justice Stephen Brobbey, in his remarks at the various public encounters reiterated that, the panel was on a fact finding mission to ascertain if there was a substantial demand or otherwise for a new region in the northern Volta.

He explained, the commission was working based on petitions submitted to the president, in which some claims were made, which must be verified by the panel only be in the areas where it emanated, hence the public hearings in the northern Volta.

Justice Brobbey indicated that, the commission was not obliged to hold public hearings in the southern part of the region, since no petition emanated from there but said, they were to prepare to give attention to the varied opinions through written submissions.

‘There were petitions filed by individuals acting for themselves and on behalf of others they represent in the northern part of the Volta region. They never claimed to be acting on behalf of all persons in the Volta region. The petitioners made claims and allegations which can only be verified in the areas from which the petitions came.’

The Hearings

With the exception of Ho, the regional capital, where the public hearing drew fewer numbers and diverse views on the proposal, the other four venues of Kete-Krachi, Nkwanta, Kpassa and Nsuta, all in the northern enclave, witnessed a massive turnout of residents, clamouring for the new region.

The enthusiastic residents, young and old, trooped to the venues clad in 'Oti region' branded T-shirts amidst funfairs and wielded placards with various inscriptions such as 'Oti region for unity and development,' 'Yes to Oti region,' 'Oti region, Our Hope,' 'Oti, our fair share of the national cake,' among others.

Petition

The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the chiefs and People of the 'Oti' enclave under the chairmanship of Nana Mprah Besemuna II, paramount chief of Krachi Traditional Area in June 2017 petitioned President Akufo-Addo for a new region for the northern part of Volta, which was made up 8 administrative districts.

The petition was for and on behalf of the chiefs and people of Biakoye, Nkwanta South, Kadjebi, Jasikan, Krachi West, Krachi Nchumuru, Krachi East and Nkwanta North, as well as Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe traditional areas under the Hohoe municipality.

Proposed Region

The proposed 'Oti' region was said to cover about 12,000 out of the about 20,000 square kilometres total land area of Volta region. It has an estimated total population of about 700,000, who are mostly into food and cash crops farming, as well as fishing due to the presence of River Oti and the Lake Volta.

The enclave, in addition to its tourism potentials, do not only contribute to the nation's food basket through the cultivation crops such as yam, plantain, potatoes and cassava; but also added to the export earnings of the country through its cocoa production.

Arguments

Arguments in support of the new region was largely hinged on the underdevelopment of the Volta north, which was attributed to the long years of neglect and deprivation by successive governments.

Proponents enumerated the lack of basic amenities, deplorable road infrastructure, poor and inadequate educational and health facilities, as well as lack of opportunities among others to make buttressed their case before the nine-member panel.

Krachiwura, Nana Besemuna said the creation of the ‘Oti’ region would bridge the yawning socio-economic and infrastructural gap in the northern part of Volta, and also bring governance closer to the doorstep of the people.

Nonetheless, some opponents see the move as an attempt to divide the Volta region on ethnic lines. They averred that, the proposal as it was currently, would only result in the cutting off of the Non-Ewe dominated north from the Ewe dominated south, which they feared could heighten ethnic tensions among once united Volta region, known for its unique ethnic pluralism.

They however therefore proposed the creation of more districts in the underdeveloped Volta North to fast track development of the area instead of creating another regional bureaucratic, which in itself was not a guarantee for development.

Support

The proposed ‘Oti’ region has however gotten the support of politicians from both sides of the divide, with all Members of Parliament, past and present government functionaries from the proposed region taking their turns at the various hearings to announced their total support for the 'Oti region' agenda and urged all citizens to actively participate in the process.

All eight District Chief Executives in the area through the Deputy Regional minister, Mr. Maxwell Blagodzi also declared their unalloyed backing for the Oti region movement, and pledged to do their bids to see to its realization.

No Acrimony

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa also reiterated the government's commitment to seeing through the process in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

He lauded the unity of purpose among citizens of the proposed Oti region, and said their massive turnout at the hearings was a manifestation of their desire for a region; but cautioned that they follow through the constitutional process devoid of acrimony and ethnic sentiments.