If elected, John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has unveiled plans to advocate for the creation of a new region from the Upper East Region, citing reasons of security enhancement and socio-economic development.
During a visit to the Bawku Naba’s palace in the Upper East Region, Mahama disclosed that a formal proposal had been submitted to Parliament through Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku.
Mahama highlighted that the proposed new region would encompass the six constituencies in the Bawku area, stressing the area’s comparable land size and population to other existing regions like the North East Region.
In addressing the rationale behind the proposal, Mahama underscored the need to decentralize governance and bring government services closer to the people.
Additionally, he emphasized that the creation of the new region aims to bolster security efforts in the Bawku area, which has experienced persistent security challenges.
He elaborated on the proposed region’s dual objectives: “One is to bring government closer to the people. That’s the principal reason we create new regions and districts. And then the second reason is for security.”
Mahama acknowledged the unique security needs of the Bawku area and proposed that a dedicated region could facilitate more focused efforts to address these challenges effectively.
He concluded by asserting the proposal’s feasibility based on established criteria such as population size, land area, and economic viability, which are crucial for creating new administrative regions.
The proposal marks a significant policy initiative in Mahama’s electoral campaign. It aims to address regional governance and security concerns through administrative decentralization and strategic regional restructuring.
