Regional News of Sunday, 11 February 2018

Source: ghananewsagency.org

We need a new region to address our water situation - Residents

Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey

Residents of Atebubu/Amantin, Send East, Sene West and Pru Districts of Brong-Ahafo Region have appealed to the government to help address the poor water system in the three districts.

As Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey's Commission of Inquiry facilitates the constitutional process for the carving out of the Bono East Region, the people expressed worry about the worsened water situation in the local communities .

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency during the public hearing on the creation of the proposed Bono East Region at Atebubu, they said though the perennial water shortage in area seemed un-surmountable, the creation of the new region would help address the problem.

The residents have traveled from Bassa, Yeji, Bantama, Kwame-Danso, Amantin, Prang and Wiase to participate in the public hearing, though the commission had held similar hearings in some of these communities.

They said they had travelled several kilometres to follow up to the hearing as a means to demonstrate their desire for the creation of the new region for the area.

They said almost all the rivers and streams in the local communities have dried up with the new stand pipes and boreholes broken down.

Nana Osei Gyan Ababio, the Kyidomhene of Atebubu Traditional Area, expressed worry about the activities of Fulani herdsmen who were using the cattle to graze people's farmlands and polluting river bodies as well.

He said it would be a great disappointment if the Bono East Region is not created and appealed to the commission to their best for the creation of the region.

But, Justice Brobbey, who is a retired Supreme Court Judge, explained that the import of their petition had influence on the creation of the region.
He said as the public hearing continued, there was the need for the chiefs and people of the area to intensify their campaign and education on the referendum process so that they could obtain the required votes.

Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, said government was ready to create the new regions but added that as constitutional provision, the people also needed to play their part.