Two Chiefs Reject New Oti Region Creation

At least two chiefs have demanded that their towns be exempted from the proposed Oti region to be created by government.

Chief of Akpafu traditional area, Nana Kofi Adu II, said Akpafu and Lolobi towns should not be included because they have not part of towns that petitioned the President demanding the creation of new region.

Six new regions could be created by December 2018 in a referendum expected to be held in areas within six regions requesting for the split.

These areas petitioned the Justice Brobbey Commission set up by President Nana Akufo-Addo in November 2017 to listen to their demands and make recommendations.

The 9-member commission after touring areas within the Northern, Brong Ahafo, Western and Volta regions recommended the creation of six more.

Brong Ahafo region could soon be Ahafo and Brong East regions could be carved out of the Brong Ahafo region while the Northern region could be split to create two more regions - North East and Savannah regions.

The size of the Western region could be reduced to create the Western North region while the Oti region could be carved out of the Volta region.

Activists for the creation maintain the creation will foster development after years of neglect by the central government.

But the traditional leaders within the Hohoe municipality of the Volta region insist that Lobobi and Akpafu should not be added.

Chief of Akpafu traditional area, Nana Kofi Adu II explained the two towns have been historically opposed to joining a new region since the idea was first mooted in 1941.

The areas to be carved out of the Volta region are inter alia: Jasikan district, Biakoye district, Kadjebi district, Nkwanta North and south and Krachie east, west and Ntsumuru districts. Also included are Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi traditional areas all in the Hohoe municipality.

The chief explained to Joy News Kwesi Parker Wilson that at every opportunity in 1992, 2001 and 2007 and lately 2016, the towns have declined to support any proposal for re-demarcation of the Volta region.

“It came out clear that we were not interested in joining a new region”, the Akpafu chief said and maintained it is within the right of others to demand for a new region.

“If government is going to grant them we don’t have anything against it. But we have not petitioned. Why should somebody force you to go and join the Oti region?” the traditional ruler said.

He said a delegation from Akpafu were jeered and booed when they tried to make a case for exclusion during the Justice Brobby commission hearings.

The traditional ruler said the failure of persuasion could trigger a resort to force as witnessed during a voter registration exercise ahead of the referendum.

According to him, officials of the Electoral Commission who came to these two towns to register fresh voters in Lolobi and Akpafu were chased out.

“I understand that those who wanted to register had to move to Hoehoe to register but inside the town they were chased out”, he said.

The chief who was part of a delegation that visited the Electoral Commission head office in Accra said as agents of peace they are alerting government to respect the wishes of the people in Lolobi and Akpafu.

The chief said the traditional authority will request for the Justice Brobby Commission report to study it for “anything fishy”.