News:
October 14, 2011
The Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, has indicted government for deliberately creating new districts in areas that will guarantee the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) political advantage over opposition parties during the upcoming elections in 2012.
Government yesterday announced the creation of 42 new districts, bringing the total number of districts in the country to 212.
However some displeased persons including members of the opposition have expressed their discontent over the creation of particular districts arguing that there were other areas densely populated which needed to be re-demarcation but were over looked for political gains.
In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme on Friday, Hon. Kofi Jumah, with certainty stated that the NDC government, out of the 42 newly created districts, has electoral advantage in 41.
He alleged that the districts were created in constituencies with sitting NDC Members of Parliament; a situation he contends would ensure that the ruling party gets more MPs to represent its interest in Parliament.
Kofi Jumah further chided the government’s rush in creating the new districts when it had not been furnished with population census results from the Statistical Service to determine which areas really needed demarcations.
Responding to Kofi Jumah’s assertions, a Deputy Local Government Minister, Aquinas Quansah, stated that government’s decision to create new districts was based on its commitment to improve development and bring governance nearer to the people.
Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh