Oti Region, a vibrant addition to Ghana's six newly established regions as of December 2018. Fulfilling a campaign pledge made by the New Patriotic Party, the region was created by carving out the northern area of the Volta Region.
During the 2016 Ghanaian general election, current President Nana Akufo-Addo proposed the idea of forming new regions from existing ones. The goal is to bring governance closer to the people, and the Oti Region is the outcome of this initiative.
A Brief History of the Formation of Oti Region
The formation of the Oti Region is a result of a long and complex process that started with the creation of the Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development in Ghana. The ministry was tasked with supervising the creation of new regions in the country, including the Oti Region. In March 2017, the ministry submitted a blueprint for the creation of the region to the Council of State, which held 36 meetings to discuss and review the proposal.
Finally, the decision to create the Oti Region was put to a referendum, which took place on December 27, 2018. The people living within the proposed region were given the opportunity to vote for or against the creation of the new region. A remarkable 88.33% of registered voters turned out to vote, and a staggering 98.64% voted in favour of the new region.
The formation of the Oti Region marks an important milestone in Ghana's history, as it is now one of the newest regions in the country, with its own distinct identity and local governance structure.
Geography, climate and natural resource
The region is bordered to the north by the Northern region, to the south by the Volta Region, and to the west by the Volta Lake. It has a dry climate due to its proximity to the north, and its vegetation consists mostly of grassland, especially savanna with clusters of drought-resistant trees such as baobabs or acacias.
The region has nine districts, and there are several natural resources, including large quantities of iron ore deposits in Akokrowa, which are anticipated to create jobs and wealth for the people of Oti and the country in general. There are also various tourist attractions in the region, including the Kyabobo National Park, Lake Volta, and the Hanging Village, Shiare.
An Overview of Administrative Divisions
The Oti Region is governed through the local government system, which is made up of eight Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). The MMDAs are divided into 2 Municipalities and 6 Ordinary Assemblies, with no Metropolitan Assemblies.
The Chief Executive officers of each district are appointed by the central government, while the Presiding Member is elected from among the members of the Assembly. Below is a list of the current districts in the Oti Region, along with their respective MMDA names, capital cities, and Chief Executives:
Biakoye - Nkonya Ahenkro - Comfort Attah
Jasikan - Jasikan - Lawrence Aziale
Kadjebi - Kadjebi - Michael Kofi Asiedu
Krachi East - Dambai - Patrick Jilima
Krachi Nchumuru - Chindiri - Augustine Appiah
Krachi West - Kete Krachi - Douglas Osei-Nti
Nkwanta North - Kpassa - Jakayi Jackson
Nkwanta South - Nkwanta - John Tarsun
Guan - - - Andrews Teddy Ofori
Note that the Oti Region has no Metropolitan Assemblies, only Municipal and Ordinary Assemblies. The Chief Executives for each of these districts are appointed by the central government, while the Presiding Member is elected from among the members of the Assembly.
Reference
Oti Region. (2022, July 10). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oti_Region
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