To appoint 30% of the leaders to the assemblies – Prof. Ansu-Kyeremeh

General News of Sunday, March 31, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-03-31

Professor Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh, former director of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, reiterated the need for a 30% representation of leaders in local bademblies to help strengthen the system of communication. local governance.

He explained that "although the Local Government Act requires that chiefs be consulted when 30% of local badembly members are appointed, they have never been consulted".

Mr. Ansu-Kyeremeh pointed out that the result of the proposed amendment to certain provisions of the constitution would strengthen multi-party democracy, as it was time for leaders to play a leading role in the decentralization process.

Speaking on the sidelines of a two-day retreat for traditional authorities organized by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), in Accra, he lamented that "although traditional authorities are the guardians of the land with considerable knowledge and skills in local governance, they have been excluded from the local governance system.

The event, "Position and Role of Leaders in a Multi-Party Local Governance System", brought together traditional authorities across the country to reflect on the need for inclusive governance at the local level.

The meeting aimed to provide a platform for traditional authorities to share their views on how best to strengthen their participation in local governance and ensure peaceful development.

In February 2019, the government tabled a bill in Parliament to amend the 1992 Constitution with a view to the election of a Metropolitan, Municipal and District Head of Government.

Emmanuel Akwetey, executive director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), said that "the multiparty system of the nation is becoming a bipartite system dominated by the new ruling patriotic party and the National Democratic Congress, in power, parties are no longer represented in parliament. "

Mr. Akwetey emphasized the need to include stakeholders who were not adequately represented in the local governance system, to contribute to their quota to ensure accountability, transparency and development. socioeconomic.

Professor Joseph Ayee, Lecturer at the Department of Political Science of the University of Ghana, presented in a presentation entitled "Amendment of Article 55, paragraph 3, in order to reform the reform of local governance : progress and challenges ", stressed that after 31 years of decentralization, it was prudent to rectify the challenges and consolidate the gains made up to now