The District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Gonja District in the Northern Region, Hon Saeed Mahazu Jibril has ordered the closure of all shops in the West Gonja District on 27th December 2018.

He has also placed a ban on the transaction of business and commercial activities on the day of the referendum for the proposed Savanna Region.

This is to afford prospective voters the opportunity to fully participate and vote YES to ensure the creation of the Ahafo Region.

In a letter signed by the DCE, Hon. Saeed Jibril and copied to thepressradio.com on Thursday, 20th December, 2018 stated that " we write to inform you of the upcoming referendum on the creation of new Region slated for Thursday, 27th December 2018.

For the creation of the new Region, at least 50% of the persons entitled to vote must vote in each of the different referenda, and of the votes cast, at least 80% must be in favour of the creation of the demand to come to reality"

"In view of this, the office of the West Gonja District Assembly writes and directs that, all Drinking Bars, Commercial Shops, etc. should remain close to allow registered voters to vote. With this directive, all shops are mandated to open after 5.00 p.m when the voting would have ended" the letter added.

The method and means of preventing the shops from operating is however not indicated in the letter. Massive education is ongoing in the proposed Savanna region.