The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central in the Upper East Region, Mahama Ayariga has assured that, together with other parliamentary candidates on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), they will take every step to achieve the creation of a new political and administrative region named as the Kusaug Region in the Bawku area.
He said the boundaries of the new proposed region to be carved out of the Upper East Region will cover the six districts when the NDC wins the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The new region to be created in the Bawku area, and to be named as Kusaug Region, will encompass the Zebilla, Binduri, Garu, Tempane, Pusiga and Bawku District and Municipal assemblies.
“The creation of the region will therefore be our key preoccupation upon NDC winning the next election,” Mr Ayariga stated in a letter dated July 1, 2024, addressed to the Zugran of the Kusaug Traditional area.
The people of the area had made the proposal and Mr Ayariga was responding with the assurance.
Already, former President John Dramani Mahama who started his campaign tour of the Upper East Region on Saturday (August 3, 2024), speaking to the Bawku Naba at his palace said he was aware of the proposal and a subsequent letter Mr Ayariga had sent to the Speaker of Parliament about the proposal.
Mr Mahama said “it is possible” to create the proposed Kusaug region and that considering the requirement for the creation of a new region, such as land size and population, the population in the Bawku area in the Upper East Region and that of the land size far exceeds that of the North East Region.
On the land area, he said the Bawku area is either equivalent or exceeds that of the North East Region, “so it is something that is highly possible and I think that once the processes are set in motion, any commission of enquiry that is established will look favourably on this.
He said the purpose of creating a region is to create business.
Mahama Ayariga’s letter
In the MP for Bawku Central’s assurance letter to the Zugran of the Kasaug Traditional Area, he stated the “area has a diverse population of ethnicities including Moshis, Bimobas, Bisas, Yangas, Fulanis, Hausas, Mamprusis and Kusasis and a huge diaspora, both in Ghana and abroad, that can diligently work to ensure a viable region.”
“It is even more so with the recent significant discoveries of gold in the area. Until the outbreak of the six decades-long unwarranted conflict, the area was the most economically vibrant in the whole of the north of Ghana.”
He said the creation of a new region will advance the cause of peace building and co-habitation of the diverse ethnic groups and peoples of the area. It will enable the establishment of a comprehensive tailor-made regional security framework and architecture that will guarantee the safety of all ethnicities, ensure lasting peace and enable the protection of our borders.
“Ending the six decades-long conflict requires special governmental focus, development infrastructure and a functional economy that alleviates poverty and spurs prosperity. The creation of a new region will engender economic development and a fairer allocation of development projects that will create opportunities for the diverse peoples of the area. A separate and independent regional architecture will give the government an opportunity to have a special focus on the area.
“We, the NDC parliamentary candidates undertake to take every step to achieve the creation of a new political and administrative region with its boundaries to cover the six (6) districts when the NDC wins the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. The creation of the region will therefore be our key preoccupation upon NDC winning the next election.
We wish to request that we commence the processes of constituting a Committee to begin work on what would be the content of a petition mandated to be presented to the President under article 5(2) of the Constitution of Ghana 1992. The processes of creating a new region under our Constitution are clearly spelt out in article 5 and that should guide us.
Attached below is a copy of the details of Mr Ayariga’s assurance letter
CREATION OF A REGION ENCOMPASSING THE ZEBILLA, BINDURI, GARU, TEMPANE, PUSIGA AND BAWKU DISTRICT AND MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES.
I believe this finds you well and in good health and spirit.
I write to respond to your request for a commitment to create a region for the area encompassing the six (6) districts and municipality of Zebilla, Binduri, Pusiga, Tempane, Garu and Bawku when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is elected into office at the December 2024 polls.
My colleague sitting NDC Members of Parliament (MPs) and the NDC parliamentary candidates (PCs) for the 2024 parliamentary election and I have discussed your request and I am glad to inform you that, in principle, we the sitting Members of Parliament on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress and all the aspirants on the ticket of the NDC are convinced that our six (6) municipality and districts are viable enough to constitute a region on its own.
This area has a diverse population of ethnicities including Moshis, Bimobas, Bisas, Yangas, Fulanis, Hausas, Mamprusis and Kusasis and a huge diaspora, both in Ghana and abroad, that can diligently work to ensure a viable region. It is even more so with the recent significant discoveries of gold in the area. Until the outbreak of the six decades-long unwarranted conflict, the area was the most economically vibrant in the whole of the north of Ghana.
The creation of a new region will advance the cause of peace building and co-habitation of the diverse ethnic groups and peoples of the area. It will enable the establishment of a comprehensive tailor-made regional security framework and architecture that will guarantee the safety of all ethnicities, ensure lasting peace and enable the protection of our borders.
Ending the six decades-long conflict requires special governmental focus, development infrastructure and a functional economy that alleviates poverty and spurs prosperity. The creation of a new region will engender economic development and a fairer allocation of development projects that will create opportunities for the diverse peoples of the area. A separate and independent regional architecture will give the government an opportunity to have a special focus on the area.
We, the NDC parliamentary candidates undertake to take every step to achieve the creation of a new political and administrative region with its boundaries to cover the six (6) districts when the NDC wins the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. The creation of the region will therefore be our key preoccupation upon NDC winning the next election.
We wish to request that we commence the processes of constituting a Committee to begin work on what would be the content of a petition mandated to be presented to the President under article 5(2) of the Constitution of Ghana 1992. The processes of creating a new region under our Constitution are clearly spelt out in article 5 and that should guide us.
Ultimately, the matter is to be determined by a referendum.
Please accept assurances of our collective commitment to the creation of a new administrative region to cover the six districts and municipality.
Watch the video attached below
Creation_of_Kusaug_RegionVIDEO: It is possible to create new region in Bawku; @JDMahama assures Bawku Naaba on first day of campaign tour of Upper East https://t.co/wSAAG5KkwS pic.twitter.com/PCqusa8xxz
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) August 3, 2024
Source: graphic.com.gh
