All you need to know about the 16 regional capitals of Ghana

Did you know that until 2018 Ghana had only 10 administrative regions however, after the 2018 Ghanaian new regions referendum. Which was held on the 27th of December the same year another 6 regions were added taking the total to 16. The addition of the new regions and the referendum was caused after a very long period of consultation.

Why were six new regions created in Ghana?

The creation of six new regions in Ghana stems from decades of petitions calling for their formation. Well before Ghana gained independence in 1957, there were persistent calls for the establishment of additional regional capitals. For instance, the chiefs and people of the Oti Region demanded the creation of the region as early as 1954. However, these regions were consistently classified under the Volta Region.

The idea of new regions became a campaign promise of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2016 during his election campaign. With the fulfillment of this promise, the Oti region has now been established, allowing the chiefs to distinguish themselves.

What was main argument for the formation of new Ghana regions?

The primary rationale behind the call for more regions was the perception that the existing 10 regions were too vast and could not effectively be administered by a single central authority.

The demand for additional regions had historical roots, as it echoed the sentiments of various ethnic and cultural groups within the country. Over the years, there had been persistent challenges in managing the diverse needs and interests of the different regions, leading to a call for more localized administration. This sentiment was particularly evident in the pre-independence era when discussions on regional representation and governance gained momentum.

How the new Ghana regions were created?

The new regions of Ghana were created by splitting four of the existing regions. The regions that were split to create the new Ghana regions were;

Western Region was split into two to create Western and Western North;
Northern Region was split into two to create North East and Savannah;
Volta Region was split into two to create Volta and Oti;
Brong-Ahafo Region was split into three to create Bono, Ahafo and Bono East.

Why the new Ghana regions work.

The new regions allow the administrative areas to;

Meet the changing needs of their growing population
Protect minority ethnic or group interest and to ensure cohesion
Help ensure that development and resource infrastructure is directed to the right geographical area

So in short they are allowing local areas to meet the needs of the ever changing Ghana. Especially with the growing influx of diaspora into Ghana. Whom are settling setting up farms and new businesses.