The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has said it supports the decision of the Local Government Ministry to elect Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and the related referendum that will be held in December.
According to the PPP, the election would serve the purpose of strengthening democratic self-government at the local level to ensure accelerated development everywhere in the country.
Addressing the media in Accra on Monday, Mr William Doworkpor, first vice chairman of the party, said assembly members were held accountable by the people and not the MMDCEs simply because it was the assembly members that they voted for.
“We wish to state upfront and without equivocation that we are 100% in support of the election of MMDCEs and the referendum scheduled for December 2019, to make it possible to amend the infamous entrenched article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution, to allow for assembly elections on partisan basis. As key advocates of the reform, our individual and collective vote remains an emphatic ‘yes’ for the referendum question and we are happy that our advocacy and the vigilance of Ghanaians and our desire in ensuring accountability at the local level paid off,” he said.
Support
The PPP calls for support from the government, NGOs, civil society, progressive political organizations, labour unions, professional bodies, student movements, religious institutions, and the media as the fourth estate of the realm to come alive to the task and intensify the campaign in full support of a ‘yes’ vote
“We expect the media to allocate some free airtime in their prime time shows or programmes to promote this national agenda as a subsidy to reduce the media and advertising cost of the government and the Electoral Commission with respect to commercials associated with public education and campaign in support of the referendum and all activities associated with the direct and popular election of all MMDCEs,” he added.
Transparency
Mr Doworkpor said the PPP party believes that the proposed amendments to all related legislation and policies must be put on the table now, in a comprehensive way, to ensure that the public know exactly what outcome to expect of the whole process after the ‘yes’ vote has been cast.
He added that although Article 55(3) could be amended to allow Ghanaians to elect their MMDCEs on partisan basis, that alone could not make the election possible; rather Article 243(1) would.
“Other laws must equally be amended as well. …. We cannot have a partisan election of MMDCEs and the assembly men and women elected by universal adult suffrage and allow the President to appoint not more than 30% of all the members of the district assembly,” he said.
He further said the power of the President to appoint 30% of the assembly members was undemocratic and constitutional and democratic sacrilege.
Consequential amendments
Mr Doworkpor said with the details of the nature and forms of the consequential amendments and reviews of others laws and policies impacting on the election of MMDCEs, certain questions and issues must be answered by the government and clarified now but not later after the referendum.
He said the questions include would include whether the President would maintain the power to remove MMCEs; whether an elected MMCE remain the head of the district security council; what the new formula for the distribution of the district assemblies common fund would be like;and whether MPs still have a share of the Common Fund.
“The failure of the government to amend Article 243(3)(b) will render the entire election process useless,” he said.
PPP urged all Ghanaians to be vigilant to take advantage of this opportunity to participate fully in the referendum for the overwhelming yes votes.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Prince Essien