The Tamale public hearing was the first of five others to be held at Damongo, Sawla, Bole, Buipe and Salaga from now until March 19, when the Commission will wind up its activities in the Gonja Traditional Area, and move to the Mamprugu Traditional Area from March 20, to March 25 for further public hearings.

The Gonja Traditional Area and the Mamprugu Traditional Area petitioned the Commission to create two regions out of the Northern Region.  Madam Rodalen Bimadoe, a staff at the Northern Regional Health Directorate, was one of the people, who spoke during the public hearing in Tamale on Tuesday saying the large size of the Northern Region made it difficult for effective administration.

She argued that carving out other regions from the Northern Region would ensure effective administration as well as help in fighting crimes. She said the limited number of legal institutions such as the Attorney General’s Department and one high court in the region affected justice delivery hence the increasing violent acts in the region.

Mr Mahama Haruna, Public Relations Officer of the Gonjaland Youth Association said the creation of the proposed region would ensure administrative efficiency in the monitoring and evaluation of projects to bring about development.

Mr Abu Hassan Mahamadu, Head of Finance at the Tamale Central Hospital said the creation of the proposed region as petitioned for by the Gonja Traditional Area would help promote sports activities in the region to enable the youth to develop their sporting talents.

Mr Mahamadu stated sporting activities especially football clubs had declined saying the creation of a new region would give opportunities for rising stars to shine. Madam Felicia Karagy, a worker at the Ghana Trades Union Congress said the large size of the Northern Region did not allow for priorities to be set adding that the vulnerable in society were mostly left out in setting priorities.

She said “So if this region is carved out or other regions are created, then we can set our priorities according to the areas of our interest.” Major concerns of other people at the public hearing included; the high rate of unemployment, inadequate coordination and implementation of programmes to fast-track development, and the poor representation of minority ethnic groups in the region.

Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey, Chairman of the Commission assured that views expressed would be considered for the creation of the proposed region.