Why Wassa Amenfi Should Join Western North Region

Wassa Amenfi is made up of Amenfi East, Amenfi West and Amenfi central. Amenfi East occupies a total land area of 1,600 square kilometers which is about 7.5% of the total size of the current Western Region. The capital Wassa Akropong is 180km away from the regional capital Sekondi – Takoradi. Amenfi West is located in the middle part of the Western Region and has a total land area of about 1,448.556 square kilometers and Asankragwa is the capital. Amenfi Central is also located in the middle part of the Western Region of the country. It is bounded to North by Bibiani-Ahwiaso Bekwai Municipal; to the North-West by Sefwi Wiawso Municipal; to the South by Prestea Huni-Valley District; to the South-West by Wassa Amenfi West Municipal; to the West by Aowin District and to the North-East by Upper Denkyira West District. It has estimated land area of 1,845.93 Square kilometers with Manso Amenfi as it's capital town.

The debate as to why Wassa Amenfi should join the new Western North Region has resurfaced with most youth not happy with the decision by the traditional leaders to still remain part of the current Western Region which Wassa Amenfi just like our brothers from Sefwi and Brosa have little to benefit making us the most deprived sectors of the region. Most developmental projects have always been concentrated in the Ahanta land and most recently in Nzema land due to the oil find.

Interestingly, the proposal for a Western North actually came from a Son of Wassa to the president during the 2012 campaign. A new region will house administrative offices for all State Institutions, Regional Coordinating Council, most private companies and most businesses. This will mean there will be jobs available for our people from this new region. A new region will have its own Public works department, Highways department, etc. We are guaranteed of our fair share of roads and infrastructure.

The Interior Ministry will also set up new Police Command, Immigration, Fire Service and all the other Security agencies under interior in the new region of which there is the likelihood of a new military base. A new region will have its own university and Polytechnics and a fair share of educational infrastructure and regional hospital newly built and other health facilities.

A new region will drive prospects of investment from all walks of life to the people. Value of land and property will go up. So people with these assets should brace themselves for banks and Telecoms buying their properties to help speed up development in the area.

Now the people of Wassa should understand that, all these will happen and once we are part of the new region, we stand to get a fair share of the cake. We have been part of Western South for so long. We always shared the Cake with the Ahanta’s, Nzema’s etc. but if now we are only going to share with only the Sefwis, what is wrong? Equal justice will tell you that everything will be split 50/50. Even if it’s 60/40 it's still preferably better because we still get a greater share than sitting in Western South for a 20/20/20/20/20 share of the cake.

Some people have argued on language barrier but let's be reminded that language in this case is and cannot be a barrier to the accelerated development we envisage for Amenfi joining Western North. The official language in Ghana is English and that is what is deployed in our administrative work. Our Municipal and District Assemblies are made up of people from different background but language has not served as a hindrance to their work.

Moreover, the argument of a future Wassa Region is neither here nor there. If this so called Wassa Region is feasible, it should have been included and acted upon in this current exercise by government. Until when will any government show commitment in creating the Wassa Region? Proximity in itself is of a great essence to development.

This is a make or break moment for we the people of Wassa and youth and all other groups and institutions that matter must stand up in unism to fight a good course. We must do things the Wassa way with total respect to the rule of law to exhaust all possible avenues and NEVER RELENT until Wassa Amenfi becomes part of yet to be created Western North Region.

Long live Wassa Amenfi
Long live Western North
Long live Ghana.
KORANKYE, Agyensem Ezekiel
020 286 6867/ 050 126 1230/ 054 266 3991