Nineteen New Districts Created

Nineteen new districts have been created to bring governance to the doorstep of the people and enhance the decentralisation process. This follows the signing of the Creation of Districts Instrument 2003 (Executive Instrument 9).

President J.A. Kufuor signed the instrument on November 12, 2003, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462).A copy of the EI made available to the Graphic said three new districts had been created in the Ashanti Region.

The Adansi North and South districts have been created out of the Adansi West District with Fomena and New Edubiase as their capitals respectively. Obuasi becomes a Municipal Assembly with Obuasi as the capital. The EI said Amansie Central had been carved out of Amansie East. Bekwai is the capital of Amansie East while Jacobu is the capital of Amansie Central. Atwima Nwabiagya with Nkawie as the capital and Atwima Mponua with Nyinahin as the capital have replaced the Atwima District.

The executive instrument indicates that in the Brong Ahafo Region, where five districts have been created, the former Atebubu District has now been divided into two. These are the Pru District with Yeji as the capital and the Atebubu-Amantin District with Atebubu as the capital. The Wenchi District has also been divided into two. The Tain District has Nsawkaw as the capital while the Wenchi District has Wenchi as the capital.

The Jaman District has also been split into two districts. These are Jaman South and North with Drobo and Sampa as the capitals respectively. According to the Executive Instrument, the Kintampo District has also been divided into two, which are Kintampo South and North with Jema and Kintampo as the capitals respectively. The Asunafo District has also been broken into two — Asunafo North and South — with Goaso and Kukuom as the capitals respectively.

The Executive Instrument said the Central Region has one new district. The Assin District has been divided into two. These are Assin North and South with Foso and Assin Manso as capitals respectively. The Eastern Region has two new districts. These are Atiwa and Kwahu West. The capital of Atiwa is Kwabeng while that of Kwahu West is Nkawkaw.

In the Greater Accra Region, the Ga District has been divided into two thus creating a new district, Ga East with its headquarters at Abokobi. The original district is now Ga West and Amasaman still remains the capital.

Two new districts have been created in the Upper East Region. Talensi-Nabdam District has been carved out of the Bolgatanga District with the capital at Tongo. The Bolgatanga District has been upgraded to a municipality. The other district is Garu Tampane which has also been carved out of the Bawku East District with GaruTampane as capital.

The Executive Instrument said one new district has been created in the Upper West Region. The new district is Wa West District with Wechiaw as the capital. The former Wa District has been upgraded into a municipal assembly. It said in the Volta Region, two new districts have been created. These are the Adaklu-Anyigbe which has been carved out of the Ho District with Kpetoe as the capital.

The Ho District has been upgraded into a municipality. The Kete-Krachi District has been divided into two. These are Krachi West and Krachi East districts with Kete Krachi and Dambai as their capitals respectively.

The Executive Instrument said the Western Region has two new districts. The Juaboso-Bia District has been divided into two. It is now the Bia District with Essam-Debiso as the capital and Juaboso District with Juaboso as the capital. It said the Amenfi District has also been divided into Amenfi East and West. The capital of Amenfi East is Wassa Akropong while that for Amenfi West is Asankragwa.