Local Governance Expert, Fred Oduro Agyarko has called for a review of the Local Government Act to ensure a more holistic approach towards the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs)
He said the election of MMDCEs is the way to go.
“If Ghana should approve and elect the District Chief Executives (DCE’s) which should be on a partisan basis, it will not make the country the first to practice such a system. As of now, Ghana is the only country in West Africa that appoints mayors and DCEs but if you visit the francophone and other West African countries like Nigeria, they elect their local government into chairpersons on party basis.
Mr. Agyarko said electing MMDCEs will make them assertive and accountable and called for a reduction in the size of assemblies from the current 216 to 110.
Mr. Oduro Agyarko made the call in an interview on Uniiq FM’s current affairs programme ‘FOCUS’.
For his part, Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh said giving more power to the grassroots is the best thing in any democracy.
He said the 1992 Constitution gives the President more power, therefore devolving power to the people at the local level will also create a sense of ownership of development projects at the district level.
The MP said he “is glad that the key leaders of parliament are in agreement with this matter”.
Ranking Member on the Local Government and Rural Development Committee of Parliament, Nii Lante Vanderpuye said electing MMDCEs will not be the panacea to the developmental challenges at the local level if the necessary resources are not released to the assemblies.
Story By: Mario Rashid Kadiah.
