The Centre for Ethical Governance and Administration (CEGA) has joined scores of Ghanaians and CSOs including the National House of Chiefs, NDC and PPP to canvas support for “NO vote” in the upcoming December 17, 2019 Referendum which is seeking to introduce partisan politics in the local governance system.
In a statement signed by Prof. Ohene Adjei, Executive Director of CEGA and copied Awake News, “the Assembly Members have been the focal persons and effective servants and vehicles for mobilizations in our rural communities. The Assembly Members are by law and practice responsible and accountable to the local communities in which they serve.” therefore, introducing party politics into local governance will make the Unit Committees and Assembly Members no longer responsible and accountable to the local community but to political parties.
Prof. Ohene Adjei also noted introducing the partisan politics in the local level will make community interest’s “substantially side-lined and relegated for the interests of the dominant political party agenda on all issues.”
“That the transfer of power from the communities to political parties will entrench the inimical winner-takes-all type of politics that has been observed to promote open corruption, mistrust, violence and division.” – He emphasized
He has stated that “CEGA has noted with concern the low public education and sensitization on these critical and complex issues and processes which has created the erroneous impression that the Referendum on December 17, 2019 is meant for the election of MMDCES” and is urging the “National Commission on Civic Education to double their efforts to impartially educate the public to make their independent informed choices on whether or not, the entrenched Article 55(3) of the1992 Constitution should be amended.”
The Controversies
The upcoming December 17, 2019 is generating a huge controversy. 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 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.
Read the full statement from CEGA:
19th November, 2019
PRESS RELEASE
CENTER FOR ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION CALLS FOR MASSIVE VOTER TURN OUT TO VOTE “NO” ON AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 55(3)
On the 12th of December 2019, Ghanaians will be called upon to vote in multiple elections in which we will be required to elect Unit Committee and Assembly Members in the usual manner since 1992.
Also in this same election, a Referendum will be held on a YES or NO Vote on Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution.
From the two questions to be voted for and against the Amendment of Article 55(3), a YES vote will imply that, Article 55(3) should be amended to permit Political Parties to participate in the election of Assembly Members, whereas a NO Vote will imply that, even though Assembly Members are to be voted for in all subsequent elections, they will be expected to campaign and voted for on their own merits.
The CEGA has noted with concern the low public education and sensitization on these critical and complex issues and processes which has created the erroneous impression that the Referendum on December 17, 2019 is meant for the election of MMDCES.
We call on the National Commission on Civic Education to double their efforts to impartially educate the public to make their independent informed choices on whether or not, the entrenched Article 55(3) of the1992 Constitution should be amended.
CEGA notes with keen interest, that currently before Parliament is a Bill for the Amendment of Article 243(1) of the 1992 Constitution to enable the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCES) into our local government Assemblies.
We call on the Legislature to fast track the amendment process on Article 243(1) to pave way for the election of MMDCES into the Assemblies but not on party political basis.
The Center for Ethical Governance and Administration (CEGA), calls on all peace-loving and development-oriented citizens to think carefully beyond the various reasons being canvassed for the amendment of Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution in the ongoing National Referendum slated for December 17 2019.
The CEGA had listened and evaluated the merits and demerits of the need to amend Article 243(1), and finds merit and favours the need to amend Article 243(1) to permit the election of MMDCEs on a non-partisan basis.
However, CEGA is strongly opposed to the proposed amendment of the entrenched Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution and urges all Ghanaians to turn out massively on December 17, 2019 for a massive NO vote.
Our position is grounded on the following:
That, but for the unlawful interference and manipulation by politicians and persons with parochial interests, the local governance structures and operations as currently legislated, is absolutely suitable and well-tailored to serve the community needs at the District Assembly and Unit Committee levels.
What is needed is not throwing away the tried and tested non-partisan local governance system with the bad waters of political intrusion and manipulations. As a country, we must insist on preventing and insulating district assembly elections from unwanted exposure to partisan politics. We must be law-abiding and strictly guard and protect local governance from politicians whose interests are hinged on winning political power for the spoils of electoral victory at all levels.
That the Assembly Members have been the focal persons and effective servants and vehicles for mobilizations in our rural communities. The Assembly Members are by law and practice responsible and accountable to the local communities in which they serve.
By introducing party politics into local governance, the Unit Committees and Assembly Members will no longer be responsible and accountable to the local community but to political parties.
That community interest will be substantially side-lined and relegated for the interests of dominant political party agenda on all issues.
That the transfer of power from the communities to political parties will entrench the inimical winner-takes-all type of politics that has been observed to promote open corruption, mistrust, violence and division.
***That if the amendment to elect our MMDCEs, on non-partisan basis is approved, the YES vote will undermine the rights allowed citizens to vote for non-partisan MMDCEs.
***That the low participation recorded in previous District Level elections has been the result of insufficient education. District Assemblies suffer from lack of human and material resources which are held on by centralized bureaucracies and thereby making the Assemblies seem unimportant and attractive to highly qualified persons. We call on the government that instead of introducing partisan politics into local government they should reinforce rules, regulations and policies directed at making the district assemblies resourceful as the political and administrative authorities in our districts.
That we are not opposed to Party Political democracy, but as country we should not allow the negative side of partisan politics that breeds corruption, divisiveness, violent vigilantism, and monetization that has come to be associated with party politics.
10.Let us resist any attempt to extend and entrench the evil political principle of winner-takes-all into our local governance.
11.Let us prevent political vigilantism in our backyards.
12. Let our Assemblies represent our community interest and not political party interest.
13. Say NO to transfer of your personal power to political parties.
14. A Vote NO is for one peaceful Ghana
15. A vote for NO to prevent one party rule at all levels in Ghana.
GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA AND MAKE OUR NATION GREAT AND STRONG. BOLD TO DEFEND FOREVER THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND OUR RIGHTS.
About us
The Center for Ethical Governance and Administration is a Civil Society Group of professional lawyers, engineers, bankers, architects, and medical practitioners, academics and religious leaders who seek to deepen ethicality and accountable standards in the governance of public affairs in Ghana
PROF. KWAME OHENE ADJEI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DR. JUSTICE MOSES AHETO, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com
