The flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign tour in the Upper East Region on Saturday.

Mr Mahama visited various locations in the region, starting with a durbar of chiefs and queen mothers at the Bawku Naba's Palace in Bawku Central. 

He proceeded to Kuku Zabgu for a community engagement session.

New region for Bawku area named Kusaug Region

Touching on a proposal for a new region to be created in the Bawku area, named as Kusaug Region, encompassing the Zebilla, Binduri, Garu, Tempane, Pusiga and Bawku District and Municipal assemblies when he visited the Bawku Naba's palace, Mr Mahama said "it is possible" to create a new region in the area.

He said he was aware of a proposal, and a letter the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has sent to the Speaker of Parliament about that.

He added that, considering the requirement for the creation of a new region, such as land size and population, the population in the Bawku area in the Upper East Region and that of the land size far exceeds that of the North East Region.

On the land area, he said the Bawku area is either equivalent or exceeds that of the North East Region, "so it is something that is highly possible and I think that once the processes are set in motion, any commission of enquiry that is established will look favourably on this. 

He said the purpose of creating a region is to create business.

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Watch the video attached below 

VIDEO: It is possible to create new region in Bawku; @JDMahama assures Bawku Naaba on first day of campaign tour of Upper East https://t.co/wSAAG5KkwS pic.twitter.com/PCqusa8xxz

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) August 3, 2024

Below are details of one of the letters dated July 1, 2024 written by the MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga to the Zugran of the Kusaug Traditional area giving assurance for the creation of a region in the area if the NDC wins Election 2024

The Zugran,
Kusaug Traditional area

CREATION OF A REGION ENCOMPASSING THE ZEBILLA, BINDURI, GARU, TEMPANE, PUSIGA AND BAWKU DISTRICT AND MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES.

I believe this finds you well and in good health and spirit.

I write to respond to your request for a commitment to create a region for the area encompassing the six (6) districts and municipality of Zebilla, Binduri, Pusiga, Tempane, Garu and Bawku when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is elected into office at the December 2024 polls.

My colleague sitting NDC Members of Parliament (MPs) and the NDC parliamentary candidates (PCs) for the 2024 parliamentary election and I have discussed your request and I am glad to inform you that, in principle, we the sitting Members of Parliament on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress and all the aspirants on the ticket of the NDC are convinced that our six (6) municipality and districts are viable enough to constitute a region on its own.

This area has a diverse population of ethnicities including Moshis, Bimobas, Bisas, Yangas, Fulanis, Hausas, Mamprusis and Kusasis and a huge diaspora, both in Ghana and abroad, that can diligently work to ensure a viable region. It is even more so with the recent significant discoveries of gold in the area. Until the outbreak of the six decades-long unwarranted conflict, the area was the most economically vibrant in the whole of the north of Ghana.

The creation of a new region will advance the cause of peace building and co-habitation of the diverse ethnic groups and peoples of the area. It will enable the establishment of a comprehensive tailor-made regional security framework and architecture that will guarantee the safety of all ethnicities, ensure lasting peace and enable the protection of our borders.

Ending the six decades-long conflict requires special governmental focus, development infrastructure and a functional economy that alleviates poverty and spurs prosperity. The creation of a new region will engender economic development and a fairer allocation of development projects that will create opportunities for the diverse peoples of the area. A separate and independent regional architecture will give the government an opportunity to have a special focus on the area.

We, the NDC parliamentary candidates undertake to take every step to achieve the creation of a new political and administrative region with its boundaries to cover the six (6) districts when the NDC wins the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. The creation of the region will therefore be our key preoccupation upon NDC winning the next election.

We wish to request that we commence the processes of constituting a Committee to begin work on what would be the content of a petition mandated to be presented to the President under article 5(2) of the Constitution of Ghana 1992. The processes of creating a new region under our Constitution are clearly spelt out in article 5 and that should guide us.

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Ultimately, the matter is to be determined by a referendum.

Please accept assurances of our collective commitment to the creation of a new administrative region to cover the six districts and municipality.

Garu

In Garu, Mr Mahama attended a durbar of chiefs and people at the Garu chief's palace, followed by a community engagement session at Denugu Primary School. 

The Tempane area also hosted the former president, with a durbar at the Tempane SHS and a community engagement session at the Bsyonde/Kongo bridge.

Mr Mahama's campaign, tagged "#Mahama4Change2024", aims to bring about positive change to Ghana and improve the lives of its citizens. 

His engagements in the Upper East Region are focused on listening to the concerns of traditional leaders and community members, as well as sharing his vision for the country's future.

The campaign is expected to continue in the coming days, with Mr Mahama scheduled to visit other regions and engage with more Ghanaians.

Bawku to get first-class hospital - Mahama 

Mr Mahama reiterated his promise to construct a first-class hospital in Bawku in the Upper East Region. 

He said the promise which was made in the run-up to the 2016 election and still stands was intended to put an end, the need for residents to travel to Bolgatanga and Tamale to receive medical care.

He indicated that the new hospital would be a major referral facility within the Bawku area.

He was responding to a request by Bawku Naba, Zugraan Asigri Abugrago Azoka II during a courtesy call on him and his elders in his Palace. 

He added that a hospital project in Garu started by the NDC government which has been abandoned would also be completed to enable the people to have access to quality medical care.

Touching on the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom road, he said he cut the sod in 2015 it was expected to have beeen completed by now.

However, he assured the people that the road project would be completed including the Nankpanduri-Kulungugu stretch of the Eastern corridor road project. 

In an address read on his behalf, Naba Azoka II, said the numerous developmental projects executed by the NDC had left an indelible mark in the area.

Further, he appealed for the conversion of the Savanna Agricultural Research Centre into a University to ensure food security in the country.