Several CSOs join coalition to push for the election of MMDCEs
A move to push for some reforms in Ghana’s local government sector has been commenced by some Civil Society Organizations in the country for a responsive development at the local level.
The area within the local government sector where the CSOs are pushing for reforms is the current practice where the president appoints Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executive (MMDCEs) to a system where the MMDCEs will be elected.
Briefing the media at the unveiling of the CSO Coalition For Local Government Reform in Ghana on November 22 2021, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Centre for Democratic Development, CDD Ghana, Dr Kojo Asante revealed that consensus for the election of MMDCEs is strong.
As it stands, there seems to be bi-partisan support for the election of MMDCEs because the NPP in its 2020 manifesto re-affirmed its commitment to electing MMDCEs on partisan lines while the National Democratic Congress’ 2020 manifesto similarly committed the party to the idea of elected MMDCEs.
“Most importantly Ghanaians have expressed strong support for the election of MMDCEs. A recent local government survey by the CDD-Ghana revealed that 76% of Ghanaians are in favour of electing their MMDCEs. This is the highest level of support recorded since the Centre began tracking this issue,” Dr Asante said.
The Coalition of CSOs in reviving the conversation for the election of MMDCEs – invited some 29 notable CSOs in Ghana and about nine individuals. Plans are far advanced to carry out scheduled activities to reset the agenda for the election of MMDCEs and advocate for comprehensive local government reforms.
“The Coalition aims to bridge the gap in consensus cited in 2019 as the primary impediment preventing the realization of these goals. This is an attempt to direct conversations to look at the election of MMDCEs plus other workable reforms that have the potential of turning around Ghana’s local government system to be responsive to service delivery,” said Dr Asante while delivering his speech at the launch of the Coalition at the International Press Centre in Accra.
The Coalition, Dr Asante said, understands that a broad-based consensus is a prerequisite to executing the reforms in the local government sector.
“The Coalition intends to advocate for reforms from a common position…the Coalition will undertake this mission beginning with a nationwide regional-level consultation in all 16 regions with identifiable stakeholders such as traditional leaders, political parties, the media, Community Based Organisations, local assemblymen and women and local bureaucracy,” he disclosed.
Many people felt disappointed in President Nana Akufo-Addo for not being able to fulfil his promise to ensure that MMDCEs are elected when in 2019 he ordered for the withdrawal of the Bill to amend Article 243(1) of the Constitution that gives Presidents power to appoint MMDCEs.
For President Akufo-Addo initially, the issue was lack of consensus but persons with knowledge of the law also beg to differ as they cited that it was not a lack of consensus rather, the President wanted the election of MMDCEs to be done along partisan lines.
At the unveiling of the Coalition, IMANI Africa’s Kofi Bentil also added that it is not accurate to say there is a lack of consensus on the election of MMDCEs.
He indicated that an overwhelming number of Ghanaians are in support of the election of MMDCEs.
The Coalition is composed of the following CSOs: CDD-Ghana, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Centre for Local Government Agency (CLGA), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), IMANI Africa, SEND-Ghana, PenPlusBytes, Local Governance Network (LOGNET), ABANTU for Development, Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF), West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Africa Education Watch, Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), Community Development Alliance (CDA), Rural Initiativess for Self-Empowerment – Ghana (RISE-Ghana), National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), CSOs Platform on SGD, Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Afrobarometer, and Media Coalition for West Africa (MFWA).
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
