NPP, NDC, 4 others have agreed on the election of MMDCE

At the end of a multi-party conference organized by the Ghana Conference of Catholic Bishops, six political parties agreed in principle to the election of district, metropolitan and municipal leaders.

The representatives of the six political parties that made this revelation Friday in Accra are: Mr. Freddie Blay, President of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Secretary General of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); and Mr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jr., Acting Secretary General of the Convention People's Party (CPP).

Others were Alhaji Mohammed Frimpong, secretary-general of the National Democratic Party (NDP); Mr. Allotey Brew Hammond, Progressive People's Party (PPP); and Mr. Bernard Mornah, National President of the National People's Convention (PNC).

However, Mr. Mornah felt that it was necessary to be cautious about the election of MMDCEs, because at the local level, monetization would also affect the chances of smaller parties.

The workshop, organized by the Ghana Conference of Catholic Bishops with the financial support of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, aimed to promote effective representation and responsible local governance, and in particular the direct participation of political parties in local government elections. and the election of the MMDCE instead of the appointment by the president.

It will be recalled that the NPP government, in its campaign prior to the 2016 elections, had proposed the direct election of MMDCEs on the basis of political party representation rather than appointment by the president.

This would not only have the effect of deepening democracy at the local level, but also of increasing the accountability of the MMDCEs to the district's population.

However, as Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution prohibits the sponsorship of election candidates by political parties at district bademblies or local governments, the government proposes a referendum to amend the Constitution to allow the election of candidates. Election of members of district bademblies and MMDCEs. on the representation of political parties.

Mr Nketia said that after applying the 1992 Constitution for more than a quarter of a century, it had become very clear that the provisions prohibiting partisan politics at the district level had become obsolete. where the need to re-examine them.

Blay said the NPP government is committed to ensuring that MMDCEs are elected.

Mr. Bomfeh said: "The Constitution, which is the legal architecture of our governance system, is generally problematic. If we amend section 243, it will take away the power to appoint MMDCEs to the president; and we can not change section 55 (3), which prevents political parties from participating, which would be pointless. "

"I think we need a complete overhaul of the 1992 Constitution. Why we say it, it's that the power structure and its aggregation, the mobilization and the allocation of resources, if they stay the same, we will elect the MMDCE but we will not give them any power, "he added.

He said that the CPP was of the opinion that no change could take place in this country if most citizens did not change their minds or attitude.

Mr. Hammond said that the PPP since its inception has shown its commitment to ensure the election of MMDCEs. He said that when that happens, it will guarantee accountability at the local government level.

Alhaji Frimpong described the purpose of the referendum that could lead to the election of MMDCE as a floating ball of light that could not be overwhelmed by anyone.

In a speech read on his behalf, Bishop Philip Naameh, President of the Ghana Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that once the success of the constitutional amendment was achieved, the election of the MMDCE would mark a turning in local governance and development of the country. .

-GNA