He said the creation of the Oti Region is for all persons, tribes, the young and old who live within the Oti enclave and so, Christmas conventions must be cut short because long duration of such conventions could derail their efforts to get the Oti region.
The President of Guan-Akyode Traditional Council made the call at the second council meeting of the chiefs on Friday.
According to the Traditional Council, majority of the population in the area are Christians hence the need for the Christian Council to woo eligible voters to participate in the referendum slated for December 27 for a resounding “YES” vote to pave way for the creation of the Oti Region to enhance socio-economic development.
Nana Lupuwura II hinted that the Council of Chiefs will engage pastors and church leaders in the area to reschedule their conventions either before or after the referendum.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our quest to have the Oti Region for development. For that matter, the churches should end their programmes by the said date since such functions cannot take place simultaneously with the referendum to get people to vote “YES” to get the much awaited region,” he explained.
The creation of the regions, according to provisions in chapter two of the 1992 Constitution, requires a referendum with at least 80 per cent of residents in the affected region(s) approving of the split after 50 per cent of eligible voters had come out to vote.
Six new regions are expected to be carved of four regions which include Northern, Western, Brong-Ahafo and Volta regions.
Nana Lupuwura maintained that the demand for Oti Region was motivated only by the desire to have development projects extended to the north of the Volta Region and had nothing to do with tribalism, saying, they will continue with education on the referendum to meet the constitutional requirement.
Earlier, Adele Traditional Council had also held a press conference and called out to residents of the area to go out in their numbers to vote for the new region.
Nana Kumah Anasa Ntrado V, who read the speech on behalf of the Paramount Chief, Nana Opoku Anto during the press conference said, the struggle for a new region out of the Volta Region, is over five decades.
Nana Kumah Anasa had therefore urged residents (both home and abroad) to come and support their own to get the new region.