The Minister-Designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has thrown his weight behind the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on a non-partisan basis.
This endorsement comes after years of debate on the issue, with proponents arguing that electing MMDCEs will foster accountability and deepen local-level democracy.
Speaking during his vetting on Tuesday, January 21, Ibrahim emphasized that while he agrees MMDCEs should be elected, he disagrees with the notion that it should be done on a partisan basis.
This, he noted, has been the main point of contention between the two sides of the House.
With 184 members in his caucus supporting the non-partisan approach, Ibrahim believes that Ghanaians overwhelmingly agree with this method.
He urged that the time for reform is now, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to make this happen.
Mr. Ibrahim stated, “I do agree that MMDCEs must be elected. But I disagree that it must be done on a partisan basis,” he stated. “That is the bone of contention between the two sides of the House. We proposed that MMDCEs be elected on a non-partisan basis, while the other side advocated for a partisan approach.”
“We have 184 members in our caucus, and you have 88. It means Ghanaians overwhelmingly agree with electing MMDCEs on a non-partisan basis,” he said. “I believe that if there is any time for this reform to happen, it is now.”
