Renowned broadcaster Dr. Randy Abbey has criticised the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government over a supposed proposal to create new districts in Ghana with less than four months left to the country’s general elections.
Speaking on his Good Morning Ghana programme on September 17, 2024, Dr. Abbey questioned the need for the creation of the districts, given that the country will go to the polls in about 80 days.
He pointed out that the same thing happened in 2020, which led to the disenfranchisement of the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lipke, and Lolobi (SALL) in the 2020 parliamentary election.
“81, 82 days to an election, we are contemplating the creation of new districts and municipalities – 81, 82 days to an election. We did the same thing in 2020, creating Guan and then the SALL situation occurred.
“So, now with 82 days, you are not going to conduct those field inspections or whatever and collect reports. I don’t have a problem with elevation, like I said, because the elevation really does not create the situations that will lead to the creation of new districts,” he said.
The broadcaster indicated that the creation of the new districts is likely to lead the Electoral Commission Ghana (EC) to create new constituencies, which would be problematic given the nearness of the 2024 general election.
“If constituencies fall under more than one district, then they need to create a constituency. And the EC must also follow constitutional provisions in creating these new constituencies. With 81 days to an election, why would anybody want to think about any process that will lead to the creation of a new district or a new municipality? If it’s elevation, like I said, if it is about elevation, I have absolutely no problem,” he added.
Dr. Abbey made these remarks while reacting to a letter from the Minister of Local Government and Decentralisation, notifying some Municipal and District Assemblies (M/DAs) to prepare themselves for a field verification exercise in response to a request for the creation of the new districts.
The ministry indicated that it received the request for the creation of the new districts from some chiefs, traditional authorities, Members of Parliament, opinion leaders, citizens, and M/DAs.
“The Ministry has constituted an Inter-institutional Task Team to undertake field assessment of the petitions and make recommendations to the Honourable Minister.
“Subsequently, you are kindly informed to notify the affected M/DAs herein copied to hold themselves in readiness for the field verification exercises slated from Sunday, 15th to Friday, 20th September 2024. Please note that specific dates to visit M/DAs are indicated in the attached itinerary,” part of the statement reads.
It added, “Furtherance to the above, M/DAs should endeavour to accord the task team the necessary support by making available all the relevant documents, maps, and photographs for the successful completion of this important national assignment.”
Watch Dr. Randy Abbey’s reaction and see a copy of the ministry’s statement below:
