The Chief Executive of the Afigya Kwabre South District in the Ashanti Region (A/R), Mr Christian Adu Poku, has lauded President Akufo-Addo for presenting bills to Parliament, seeking amendments to Articles 243 (1) and 55(3) for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

Commenting on the upcoming December 17 referendum on the election of MMDCEs on Pure95.7FM’s ‘Bresosem’ (a political talk show) with host Dr Otchere Addai-Mensah (Vice-President, UTAG), Mr Adu Poku explained that this initiative, if materialised, will ward off the winner-takes-all disorder that usually characterises politics.

He emphasised that Ghana has come of age and needs reforms to move forward, urging citizens to take the scheduled December 17 referendum seriously.

“MMDCEs election is the best thing to happen to Ghana. We're growing and we need to move forward," he stated. 

"This MMDCEs election will ensure accountability at the local governance level and also ensure that executives who, sometime, live in perpetual fear of being dismissed by the President”, get some job security.

“This is a great idea that we must all come on board to support. Let me congratulate the President on this initiative. He has done his part. Let us all come on board and take the referendum exercise seriously to ensure a greater and prosperous Ghana,” he added.

Background

The election of MMDCEs was a major campaign promise of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the run-up to the 2016 election.

In this regard, the government presented two bills to Parliament, seeking amendments to Articles 243 (1) and 55(3) for the election of MMDCEs and introduction of political party participation in the local elections.

Previously, the law, in Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, stipulated that District Chief Executives for every district were 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.

The referendum for the election of the Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives is set to happen on December 17, 2019, as declared by the Electoral Commission.