The Minority in parliament today Friday, 16 November 2018 walked out of parliament after they had raised preliminary objections to the debate on C.I. (Constitutional Instrument) 109, which will give legal backing to the referendum on the creation of six additional regions.

The Minority argued that the House cannot debate the approval of the C.I. when the lawmakers do not have copies of the Justice Brobbey Commission of Enquiry report, which recommended the creation of the new regions.

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye allowed the debate to continue without the Minority participating.

The report was subsequently approved forcing the Minority to stage a walkout.

Background

On August 15, 2017, the Council of State advised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to appoint a Commission of Enquiry to look into the need to create six regions and make recommendations on all the factors involved in the creation of the new regions.

The commission, known as the Justice Brobbey Commission, which was established pursuant to Article 5 of the 1992 Constitution and Constitutional Instrument (CI) 105, commenced work on November 21, 2017.

On June 27, 2018, the commission presented its report to President Akufo-Addo and recommended the creation of six new administrative regions, namely, Oti, Ahafo, Brong East, Western North, North East and Savannah.

The Commission of Enquiry recommended to the President that the referendum be limited to the proposed new regions.

Consequently, the EC has set December 27, 2018 for the referendum.