Roadmap on the election of MMDCE revealed in Accra | Policy

The government has announced the roadmap for the elections of the MMDCEs in the various metropolitan, municipal and district bademblies of the country, as part of efforts to deepen the country's democratic process.

Hajia Alimah Mahama, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said that the amendment to the draft Article 243 (1) on the appointment of MMDCEs had been approved by the Cabinet, published in the Official Journal, and returned to Parliament. to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Parliament.

The minister added that a national campaign strategy had been developed to facilitate the holding of a national referendum, which will run parallel to the district level elections in December 2019.

"A bill to amend article 55 (3) of the Constitution to pave the way for the participation of political parties in district elections was approved by the Cabinet, forwarded to the President, and then to the State Council for opinion, published in: The Gazette matured on May 24 and was submitted to Parliament at first reading on May 28, 2019, "she said.

Hajia Alima Mahama revealed that her ministry, as part of this process, had conducted a series of awareness sessions and consultations with stakeholders in all regions. According to the minister, some of the groups met were: the special parliamentary committee on local government, the national commission for civic education (NCCE), the electoral commission (EC), the national chamber of chiefs, the parties political, Christian Council, Federation of Muslim Councils in Ghana and professional groups and civil society.

"The MMDCE election campaign roadmap was designed to be implemented in four (4) phases: pre-referendum phase, referendum phase, post-referendum phase, change management phase and strengthening of capabilities, "she said.

Ghana has put in place the current system of decentralization and local government since 1988. Although significant progress has been made, some areas of shadow still need to be improved in order to deepen participatory governance and local democracy. One of these gray areas is the need to routinely elect district, metropolitan, municipal and district (MMDCE) chiefs in a partisan manner, in order to align with the mode of operation. election of leaders at the national level.