Government has rejected claims it is reneging on the promise to make the position of Metropolitan, Municipal and district chief executives elective.
It comes after the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama indicated that the election of municipal, metropolitan and district chief executives (MMDCEs) will come off in 202, contrary to the promise of the NPP while in opposition.
The NPP manifesto had promised the election of MMDCEs will be done within the first term of their government, but the latest disclosure means the initiative has been deferred to a second term, if the President is re-elected.
Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday, deputy minister for local government O.B Amoah said the Akufo-Addo government is committed to deepening democracy at the local level and will, therefore, implement the policy.
“Just recently, the afrobarometer survey says 70% of respondents wants MMDCEs to be elected. We are still committed to the process and we have the roadmap. The election is a program that we ought to encourage because most people believe it’s the way to go. By December this year would send a document to parliament,” he said.
Also contributing to the discussion, political scientist Professor Ransford Gyampo said the move may have been delayed as a result of the internal struggles the government is facing as it readies to implement it.
“Immediately after elections, the Akufo Addo led government promised that the election would be done in 2018 and now it has been shifted to 2021. The elections have been saddled with postponements. There are internal wrangling and opposition to the elections of MMDCEs. We should continue to maintain pressure to ensure that the elections have been done,” Professor Gyampo said.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
