Gov’t being criticized for aborting election of MMDCE’s plan

The government is being criticised for its decision to withdraw the Bill meant to amend Article 243(1) of the Constitution to allow Ghanaians to vote for their Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) instead of being appointed by the President.

The President directed the withdrawal in a national address on Sunday where he also announced the cancellation of the December 17 referendum that was to decide on an amendment of Article 55 (3) of the Constitution to enable political parties to participate in local level elections.

Civil Society Group, OneGhana Movement, in a statement, said it was disappointed the Bill had been aborted.

Though it had campaigned against the possible amendment to Article 55 (3), the group said it had never been against the election of MMDCEs.

It thus called for the government to rescind the decision to withdraw the amendment Bill for Article 243(1).

“We urge the President to demonstrate utmost good faith to citizens by laying the amendment bill for Article 243(1) before Parliament, knowing fully well that MMDCEs can be elected without amending Article 55(3).”

The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) also called on the President to rescind its decision.

In a separate statement, ChaLoG, also expressed disappointment and questioned if the Akufo-Administration was committed to pursuing the election of MMDCEs as it had promised in its 2016 election manifesto.

“This decision clearly vindicates ChaLoG’s long held position that the government was all along not committed to the amendment of Article 243(1) but yet wanted the Referendum to be held first on 17th December, 2019.”

“The decision taken by the government to withdraw the bill on the amendment of Article 243(1) is completely at variance with the NPP Government’s own 2016 Manifesto document put together prior to the General Elections,” ChaLog added in its statement.

Per Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, District Chief Executives for every district are to be appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting.

Whilst the President attributed the decision to cancel Dec 17 referendum to the absence of “a durable national consensus” on the matter, he did not explain why the Bill to amend Article 243 (1) was also withdrawn.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima

Mahama had already indicated that processes for the amendment of Article 243 (1) were at a final stage awaiting a vote by Members of Parliament.

“Amendment to Article 243(1) has been prioritized, the amendment bill was the first to be processed. It is presently in Parliament and has gone through all the required processes. It is at the last stage which requires a vote by Members of Parliament (MPs) to approve the Bill. If we work hard it may be approved before 17th December 2019,” she said.

Though the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) hadstarted advocating for a no vote , it did not voice opposition to the election of MMDCEs.

The party was only worried that an amendment to Article 55 (3) will open district assemblies and unit committees to “the needless NDC-NPP polarisation.”

The NDC’s flagbearer, John Mahama also backed his party’s position suggesting that an amendment of Article 243(1) of the constitution was more necessary.

“…we have to repeal the part that says the President can appoint members of the District Assembly because if we say we are going to make them elected by political parties why will we go and vote as political parties and the President will still have the right to appoint 10 percent of the Assembly so all those things should be repealed so we can see our way clearly. The government has promised to look at those things and repeal them so we are hoping that they will be able to do that.”

Observers have also stressed that the election of MMDCEs will be a massive step forward for Ghana’s democracy.

The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, said the possible election of MMDCE’s would have been Akufo-Addo’s best legacy .