Ghana went to the polls this week in a referendum that gave the green light for the government to create six new regions. It's part efforts to decentralize government in the country. But as CGTN's Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports, not everyone is happy with the plan.

Richard Dogbe has lived in Santrokofe Bume, a community in the northern part of the Volta region of Ghana since he was a child. He is one of many residents whose lives will be affected by the creation of the proposed Oti region to be carved out of the Volta region. He says it may affect his ability to access Healthcare in Hohoe, a municipality closer to his community which has been excluded from the proposed new region.

RICHARD DOGBE RESIDENT, SANTROKOFE-BUME "The only thing I'm afraid of is maybe one day, Hohoe people will say if one of our people gets sick, we should send him to Jaasikan hospital, we shouldn't come here. And the big market days is at Hohoe so if now they stop us from buying things there, where are we going?"

Richard used his vote in the referendum to tell the government he doesn't want the Oti region to be created.

NABIL AHMED RUFAI ACCRA, GHANA "In Santrokofe Bume which is close to the border of the proposed Oti region, residents are divided on the creation of the new region. Polling officials say the voter turnout for the referendum has been low."

The total results of the referendum from 9 districts to be carved out of the Volta region show 98 percent of electorates voting Yes to the creation of the Oti region, a strong mandate for the government to create the additional 6 regions. Most of the communities which will be carved to create the new regions have poor road networks and lack basic social amenities. Those in support of the creation of the new regions say it would help bring more development to their communities.

NANA AFRIFA AKUAMOAH IV CHIEF OF AKPAFU TRADITIONAL AREA "I feel that if the region is divided into two, then automatically we will get development which is better than it is today. Because from Hohoe to this place there is no hospital even when there's referral of a person, they have to travel all the way to this place and the roads are not good."

Richard may be against the new regions but he says he now hopes it will at least bring the desired development in his community, which lacks basic amenities such as potable water and hospitals. NABIL AHMED RUFAI, CGTN, ACCRA GHANA.