The sensitization programme, which is estimated to cost 580,000Ghana Cedis, is aimed at providing citizens enough information about the significance and the process involved in creating the new regions and the relevant constitutional provisions regarding such a national exercise.

Mr Alhassan Mohammed Awal, the Executive Director of NORSAAC, said the 1992 Constitution had made the creation of new regions flexible by vesting the power to create or not to create additional regions in the President, who can give the directive once he was satisfied, after a petition had been made to him, that there was substantial demand for it.

Mr Awal who was speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the theme, “Referendum we want” on Friday in Bolgatanga, said any person or group of persons could present such a petition for the creation, merger or alteration of any region even though there was also an advisory and investigative requirement.

He said it was important that constitutional processes such as the proposed referendum exercise embrace the collective aspirations and inclusion of all citizens irrespective of their location, gender or physical condition.

“The planned sensitization programme by NORSAAC seeks to generate citizens’ interest and duty bearers’ response on the function of the entrenched clause in the1992 Constitution, because since the promulgation of the Constitution and its successful implementation or adherence for over two decades, it had not been tested,” he said.

He stated that citizens, especially young people and some state institutions did not have informed history or experience of conducting and participating in such a democratic exercise.

Mr Awal said government and related duty bearers might take advantage of the uninformed position of citizens to flaunt the laws and act adversely or politicize the processes that must be followed.

Mr Henry Agaabil Adeenze, the Electoral Officer for Bongo in the Upper East Region, said though not all the regions in the country will be participating in the upcoming referendum on the creation of new regions,  it was still important for citizens across the ten regions to be well informed about the processes involved.

Mr Adeenze commended NORSAAC for the initiative to educate the citizens, stating that the Electoral Commission was collaborating with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to provide the needed information regarding the entire exercises.