The Quixotic Thoughts Of Dividing The Volta Region

First, let me self-disclose. I am a proud Guan from the Volta Region of Ghana. I am also a proud Ghanaian and unabashedly a Voltarian. Over the past few months, I have profoundly followed the discussions; logic and justifications that a group of our citizens have intrinsically advanced to separate or form a region that they intend to call OTI.

I have read and tried to fathom the reasons but till date, I have not been able to reach a convincing justification for their desire to form a new region. Some of the drives that have been presented for this split are that, by forming a new region, development will be scaled up. Unfortunately, if the history is a good lesson, most of the new regions that were carved out of existing regions remain the poorest of regions in Ghana. So the chronicle that a new region will spur development is a quixotic thought. Truth be told, it is Accra that essentially disburses monies to regions.

Much as I agree that one must not travel from Krachi to Ho for services, it is equally wrong for someone to travel from Aflao to Ho for services. The major problem is not with the regions. Rather, it’s the failure of Accra to decentralize services to the regions and local areas. By and large, there is no justification to travel to Accra to receive adequate medical services or obtain a passport. Such services must be brought to where the critical masses of people live. And that is in the regions. Ho is not responsible for building roads in Jasikan. Such decisions come from Accra. That said, if people think dividing the region into Volta and Oti will fix the roads, infrastructure, schools etc in Oti, I am afraid it is but mere fictional. The impenetrable question is why won't the government use the set aside monies for the referendum to address the needs of Northern Volta? I am at my wits end to think we will embark on such an enterprise only to allow a few of our people to egotistically say they do not want to be part of the Volta region. This is pure wastage of resources. I have tried very hard not to delve into the tribal tones underpinning this movement. However, I still cannot find any validation. All I have been told is that citizens in the wished-for region have been asking for this since time immemorial. Let's for a moment ask ourselves that, if this is the seminal catalyst, will it be OK if say the people of Aflao or Kumasi decide to petition to have their own region? We are going down a slippery slope that if care is not taken, Ghana will cease to be a nation state

Let's keep this genie in the bottle and let us work together to keep it there forever. We should all be students of history and learn from events in other nations. Those shouting for the division of the Volta region may win the battle but lose the war. Let us keep the region together but apply pressure on the Central government to target investments to deprived areas and pawl up the policy of devolution and decentralization. We all need services a walking distance from our homes. The government by law should set aside 25% of revenues, with a mandate to disburse to the regions. All hospitals except the national referral centers should be devolved and the health budget sent to the local areas. In addition, we can learn from our sister nation, Kenya. They launched a program in 2013 called HUDUMA ( http://hudumakenya.go.ke ). This program is aimed at enhancing the access and delivery of Government Services to all Kenyans. It is a decentralized one-stop service centers where all government services are offered like business registration, Identity cards, birth certificates, passports, police certificate on conduct, finger printing etc. There is also an E-citizen portal that allows most services to be accessed, make payment on line, thus, requiring very few visits. It is no longer acceptable to travel to Accra to receive services. Services and infrastructure must be positioned to where the people live .Let us continue to fight for a united Volta. We are one people, with different hues of languages and traditions. We have lived together for ages. Let us continue this journey that we started long ago before we joined Ghana. Finally, both NPP and NDC parties must desist from making campaign promises that will create mobocracy, muddle and subvert regional interrelation and harmony among citizens.