They said they totally disagreed with any move to take them out the new region.

They made reference to a consultative meeting they recently held, where over 90 per cent of chiefs and people, who attended, overwhelmingly agreed to belong of the region. Dr. Solomon Gumanga, their spokesperson, told a press conference at Chereponi that they were amazed at the cancellation by the Commission of Inquiry of its planned visit to the district on March 27.”

The Commission, which has been listening to the views of people on the creation of new regions, would begin the last leg of its public hearings in the Northern Region from March 13 to March 25.

Dr. Gumanga, an Obstetrics Gynaecologist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, discounted any suggestion that the Commission would not be welcomed at Chereponi. He insisted that the people would be out there in their numbers to enthusiastically receive it.

“If two regions are to be created out of the Northern Region, the right place for Chereponi is the North East Region together with Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, East Mamprusi, West Mamprusi and Mamprugu/Moaduri Districts.”

He added that “the people in the Chereponi include Anufors/Chokosi, Bimobas, Komkobas, Ewes, Hausas and other tribes. The land belongs to the people and they have the right to choose which region they want to belong to.”

“We are looking forward to being in the North East Region with our friends, brothers and sisters, our playmates - the Mamprusi people, who historically have been our allies for more than 250 years.”

He appealed to the Commission to stick to its original plan and visit the district on March 27.