President of the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Cultural Studies, Prof. David Millar, has stated that the development of various areas is not hinged on the creation of new regions, rather, he said, leaders, who want to develop sections of the country, should create more districts.
“If it is to help the people, for me it’s not the region. Create more districts and they are even easier to create. There’s nothing wrong dividing Bawku West into two districts and Pusiga into two districts, nothing. And it is there common funds go,” he stated.
According to him, regions are a serious drain on the coffers of the state but the districts, he argues, rather bring governance closer to the citizenry.
He stated that research by his PhD candidates further demands for the unit committee system to be properly operationalized to give true definition to decentralization.
Prof. Millar Millar was reacting to calls for another region to be carved out of the Upper East Region that would then cover the six administrative assemblies in the Bawku enclave.
This call for a new region has got former President Mahama reacting.
During his visit to the palace of the overlord of Bawku, Mr. Mahama, stated that he believes the call is not out of place though the creation of such a region would require that some constitutional processes be followed.
But Prof. Millar rather believes more districts fits better for the purposes of decentralization than creating more regions which explains are a drain.
“Regions are a drain. They are a drain to the resources for development. So, I think it’s not so much helpful to respond positively to every call. You can always think of alternatives.”
He added, “You can tell the Bawku people, ‘yes, good idea, (to create a) region, but if you want me to really help you, let me create more districts for you’”.
