The Scrambling For The Right To Be Selected As Regional Capitals In The Newly Created Regions; My Humble Opinion

"We will fight for the right to be free,
We will build our own Society,
And we will sing, we will sing, we will sing our own songs"

UB 40 (1986)
All too soon, Ghana's most courageous President since the advent of the 4th Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has chalked yet another strong success by creating 6 new regions, making a total of sixteen for our dear country.

This is legendary and the old man would go down in the history of this country as one of the most courageous and successful presidents of our time.

He went round this country for ten (10) good years, saw the dilapidated nature of our roads and infrastructure. He saw the need for a deepened decentralization to bring development closer to Ghanaians.

They told him they want their own regions,
They told him they want their own regional ministers,

They told him they want their own roads, schools, water, electricity and other needs satisfied,

He heard them and made it a manifesto promise, committing his party, the NPP to such a huge and risky campaign pledge!

The people heard him and voted massively for him to be able to implement this policy.

After winning massively in the 2016 election, he set up a ministry of Regional Reorganization as well as s a 9-member committee to tour the country and look at the possibility of creating new regions.

This was hugely patronized by the local people and in the end, a referenda was held in the proposed areas who massively endorsed the president's vision for them!

It was all joy as they massed up and gave a commanding approval to the bold decision of the most courageous president of our time; Nana Akufo Addo.

Their cry for their own region is summed up in the songs of UB 40. "Fight for the right to be free(to have their own regions)".

Now, they have their own regions and broken away from their parent regions. The biggest challenge is how to build their own society and sing the successes of their built".

In their quest to attain this, a growing concern is creeping in that must be quenched as soon as possible. The sitting of a regional capital!

Across these 6 newly created regions, almost every district capital wants to be selected as the regional capital.

In Oti, there is a seeming struggle between Kete Krachie, Dambai, Jasikan etc.

In Bono East, it's between Takyiman and Atebubu,

In Western-North, Bibiani, Wiawso, Bekwai and others pop up,

In Ahafo, Goaso, Mim etc pops up,
In Savanna, Damango, Bole, Salaga pops up,
In North-East, Walewale and Nalerigu pop up.
Everywhere you go, there seem to be points and counterpoints advanced to have the capital cited in one town or the other.

HISTORY/PRECEDENCE
In 2003, the Assin District was split into two; Assin North and South. There was a fierce scramble for the right to host the district capital between Nyankumasi Ahenkro and Assin Manso. Traditional tension heightened as these two towns were traditional capitals. To bring peace, the capital was cited in the middle of these two towns Nsuem-Darman.

We have given Ghanaians a very good policy but what has been triggered on social media after the successful referenda must be managed in order to avoid the washing away of the gains made so far.

I will attempt to put forward humble suggestions for the consideration of the sector minister to help minimize tension within these six new regions.

1. STRATEGIC PLAN
As soon as possible, the sector ministry must draft a 10-year *ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN* for these six regions.

This development plan must show a master strategy for the development of each of the six regions. The newly created region must not just be created but we must plan it within the context of a 21st-century creation.

2. DO NOT PICK ANY EXISTING TOWN FOR REGIONAL CAPITAL

I urge the powers that be never to pick any existing town as the regional capital. Let's create a new city for each of these regions.

The new cities would serve as the regional capital. It must be created from scratch.

How do we create the new cities?
Find the centre of each of these regions and let the neighboring traditional areas contribute at least a combined 5,000 acres to serve as the new regional capitals.

Second, properly plan this allocated land by putting in all the infrastructural needs of a modern city and let's build them from scratch.

The existing towns cannot serve the purposes of a modern regional capital if we want to be unique!

Let's build a modern capital properly planned with the assistance of the town and country planning, lands commission, and relevant bodies.

These capitals must at least have a modern SHS, at least 6 modern basic schools, parks, dumping sites, hospitals, and recreational facilities, modern as well as a good transport and drainage systems.

Further, the government must take over neighbouring villages and convert them into modern housing systems. I want us to have a modern version of Kwame Nkrumah's Tema in each of these new regional capitals.

Currently, existed towns gunning for regional capitals are haphazardly crafted. None of these qualifies to be given the status as a regional capital.

3. NAMING OF REGIONAL CAPITALS
The names of these regional capitals must reflect the entire region and not one traditional area. For instance; Oti City, Savanna City, Ahafo City, Bono City etc.

Taking lands from a group of traditional areas effectively cut off the frustrations some traditional authorities give to politicians and government officials about ownership. Compensations must be paid to the affected traditional councils and coherent systems would run effectively over there.

4. MANPOWER/HUMAN RESOURCE
Send well-trained civil servants and other human resources who can use their skills to make these newly created regions self-sufficient and wouldn't have to overburden the central government like what the existing ones are doing.

In conclusion, a well thought out and newly created regional capital for the newly created regions would go a long way to advancing and positioning our country and showcase its tourism and other potentials to the rest of the world.

Thank you.
KINGSLEY KOFI KARIKARI-BONDZIE
0244575116/0204375116
Cc:
1. The President of the Republic of Ghana
2. The Chief of Staff
3. The Hon. Minister; Regional Re-organization;
4. The Local Government Minister
5. Hon. Kwamena Bartels.
6. Central Executive Forum