Referendum on the election of MMDCEs and district elections scheduled for September

General News on Thursday, January 17, 2019

Source: 3news.com

2019-01-17

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, said that a referendum on the amendment of part of the Constitution would be held in parallel with the district elections in September.

The article, which is an entrenched provision, states that "Subject to the provisions of this article, a political party is free to participate in forming the political will of the people, to disseminate information about political ideas, social and economic programs of a national country. character; and to sponsor candidates for election to public positions other than those of district bademblies or lower local administrative units. "

She said that an amendment to this article is essential if MMDCEs are elected on a partisan basis through the universal adult suffrage system.

"As a well-established article, a national referendum is needed to be able to amend it," she said.

Hajia Mahama said this at a meeting organized to raise awareness and better understand the electoral process to representatives of different political parties.

The forum, entitled "Electing WMEDDs for Improved Local Decentralization and Good Governance", was also used to discuss the draft national road map for the elections, which is expected to take off in 2021.

The minister said: "A bill to amend the article was approved by the Cabinet and sent to the Speaker of Parliament, who sent it to the State Council for advice. The State Council has given its opinion and the Attorney General has since published the bill ".

Hajia Mahama said that, in accordance with the constitutional norm required to approve the referendum amendment, at least 40 percent of those eligible to vote in Ghana must vote in the referendum.

She added that this is part of the requirement that at least 75% of voters must approve the bill.

To ensure proper public awareness, Hajia Mahama said the ministry is working with all key institutions, including the Electoral Commission and the National Commission on Civic Education, to ensure its proper implementation.

The ministry has also engaged the media in the roadmap for the election of MMDCEs to enable them to accurately badess and report on the process leading up to the 2021 elections.