The Brong Ahafo region may be split into three if requests from petitioners seeking the split are able to make a convincing argument before the Commission of Inquiry.

Already, two petitions from different parts of the regions are before the Commission, all seeking a new region out of the existing one.

Petitioners from the Ahafo part on Thursday appeared before the Commission, from where Joy News' Joseph Ackah-Blay reports, Chairman of the Commission, Justice Stephen Brobbey explained the nature of the two petitions before engaging the petitioners.

“Now we may have three regions, the current Bono region, then Bono East Region and the Ahafo region if cases are made for their creation,” he said.

Petitioners from the Northern region are expected to appear before the Commission on November 29 and December 5 respectively.

The petitioners are expected to make their cases through a spokesperson or spokespersons of not more than three.

The spokesperson(s) will be allowed to speak at different times during the sitting.

“After the spokespersons have concluded their presentations, any of the petitioners may add a point which they believe has been left out by the spokesperson.

“Questions may be asked by members of the commission and any member of the petitioners and any others may attempt to answer them,” Justice Brobbey said.

The hearing is being organized for regions who have already petitioned the president for the creation of new regions.

Ahead of their engagement with the Commission, Chairman of the Ahafo Traditional Council, Nana Ansah Adu Gyamfi II told the media the splitting of the region is long overdue.

He said petitions have been sent to previous governments for this to be done since 1986, yet no favourable response was received.

“The region is so big, the Regional Minister cannot even finish everything before his term ends. So we want a separate region to foster development.

“We want development in our area; schools, universities, roads and good drinking water, we are not getting them in the Ahafo area,” the chief said.

Related: There could be more than 4 new regions in 2018, says Dan Botwe

The process is a step closer to the fulfilment of President Akufo-Addo’s demand for the creation of four new regions

If the work of the Commission is successful, the Electoral Commission (EC) will be required to organise a referendum to give meaning to the demand for the creation of the regions.

The proposals for additional regions to be created from the existing ones are aimed at facilitating development and fast-tracking the decentralisation of the governance process.