The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo has called off the December 17 Referendum which sought to introduce partisan politics into the local level governance system.
Addressing the National a while ago, the President however expressed disappointment at the decision of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to make a uturn on the issue and publicly stated they will campaign for a no vote in the referendum when they had initially agreed that there comes a time that partisan politics need to be introduced in the local level elections through the repeal of Article 55(3).
He said though he is of the strong conviction that if the Yes vote campaign had persisted and the referendum held, the YES would have won but he does not think the atmosphere is right for the exercise hence his decision to direct the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to abort the process and withdraw the Bill.
The Controversies
The Referendum was hit by huge controversy and public outcry. Firstly, the public said the picture was painted as though the referendum was aimed at given the power for the citizen to election their own MMDCEs.
This was affirmed when media reports suggested that “President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to turn out in their numbers on December 17, to vote ‘Yes’ in the Referendum to elect Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCE).” He was reported to have made this call when he was “speaking at the 30th-anniversary celebration of the Akatsi District Assembly, on Monday, November 2, 2019 at the start of his two-day tour of the Volta Region”
President Akufo-Addo said to have noted that the district assembly concept, introduced under the Rawlings era, is one of the most important contributions to the improvement of Ghana’s national governance.
“Now, it is time to deepen the process that began 31 years ago, and entrust to the people full sovereignty over the election of the MMDCEs and members of the District Assemblies,” he stated.
On November 9, 2019, The Chairperson of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) was reported to have indicated that the national referendum scheduled for December 17 is to allow citizens vote for the amendment of the constitutional provision which currently prevents political parties from participating in District Level Elections (DLEs).
She thus clarified that it is not meant to the election of the MMDCEs contrary to what President Akufo-Addo was reported to have said.
“The Commission wishes to clarify that the 2019 National Referendum is to enable citizens to vote on the proposed amendment of Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution that currently bars political parties from participating in District Level Elections (DLEs).”
“The proposed amendment is to introduce multi-party participation in the Local Government system in Ghana,” a statement from the NCCE clarified.
According to the NCCE, this provision as entrenched in the constitution can only be amended if 40% of persons eligible to vote to show up and 75% of the voters vote ‘YES’ in favour of the amendment.
Vote NO campaigners
The National House of Chiefs has openly kicked against the introduction of partisan politics to our local governance system. It is also on record that while the National Democratic Congress, the Progressive Peoples Party and other progressive forces are advocating for a NO vote, whiles the governing New Patriotic Party is unremittingly canvassing for a YES vote.
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com