A Local Governance analyst, Issaka Amon Kotie, says any move by the government for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will be a nonstarter.
Civil Society Organizations are calling for a total overhaul of the local government system in the country.
Some analysts also say certain ideas that went into the system of setting up of the local government system some years back cannot work now describing the system as “flawed.”
However, speaking to Starr News, Mr. Amon Kotie things must change to give value to citizens.
“In France you are monitored 24/7 how you campaign, how you spend your campaign money and your sources of funding. We are not there yet, I think we are joking. That is why I want to see a blue print or how we are going to handle it.
“People say we should vote for them (MMDCES) so that they will be accountable to us. Today we are voting for the President, MPs, are they accountable to us? They are doing whatever they like. So where is the guarantee that when we vote for MMDCEs they will account to us?” Mr. Amon Kotei quizzed.
He continued: “I do not support anything until I see a blueprint then we all sit and discuss. But as it stands now, there is no way I am going to support any kind of politicization of our local government system.”
The local governance analyst pointed out successive governments have not handled the local government system well as result of the strict political nature the appointments of MMDCEs are done.
“You will hear a top political figure say that yes the President is supposed to appoint MMDCEs and we are going to use loyalty instead of competence. So if you say loyalty what does that mean? Then we have party secretaries and party leaders and those who supported the party one way or other with food or whatever are appointed MMDCEs,” Mr. Amon Kotei stated.
According to him, most of those appointed as MMDCEs by the President are not professionals who can handle the position which is purely technical.
“He has no idea of what he is supposed to do there, I mean government upon government think that yes we have won power it is a booty to share. So let’s go and share it at the district assembly level. Meanwhile, all the 88 functions of district assemblies are purely technical. There is no political activity there.
“If you pick health it is for everybody in the District. So if you politicize it what is the politician going to do there? Now the whole country is in a fix. We cannot even manage our micro economic indicators. We can’t manage it because nobody is controlling anything. Nobody is coming with ideas to control it.
“Ghana we came together as fragmented people forming a Unitary State. So if we want to vote and give power to the people in the election of our district assemblies we have to be very careful, we don’t turn the country into a Federal State. If that is what we want we can go ahead.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
