Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom
One of the major policy visions of the PPP is the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). This is a vision we committed to at the founding of our party in the year 2012. We are happy that the Akufo-Addo Administration has made this one of its agenda items.
It is necessary for everyone to know why the topic is so important. Our lopsided centralized form of administration has contributed in a very significant way to four problems we have in this country:
[ads1]Problem 1: Poverty of all types;
Problem 2: Low level of development;
Problem 3: Disconnect between the people at the community level and local government and those in leadership positions – everyone looks to the center based in Accra; and
Problem 4: A nation that has become a chronic underachiever – economy, health, quality of life, etc
We believe that our local areas remain underdeveloped mainly because the leaders, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives are selected by one person – the President, based mostly on political patronage. Sometimes, not always, the people who become Chief Executives are the ones rejected by the people when they stood election to become Members of Parliament. These MMDCEs listen to the Executive in Accra and NOT the people they are put there to serve.
The problem of empowering the people at the local level has persisted in Ghana because the Constitution we are working with took a big part of that power and gave it to the President. This problem many believe is still with us due to the usual problems people in power have had in parts of Africa and other less developed countries, “… the reluctance and lack of political will by central governments to cede power and authority to local governments; local level political participation has not been accompanied by accountability; and the poor or inadequate allocation of resources by central governments to local authorities.”
Article 240 (1); Article 242 ; Article 243 (1) ; Article 243 (3) and Article 55 (3) need to be reviewed and amended to pave the way for the election of MMDCEs. We are certain that the President has competent lawyers who can address the challenges presented by these sections of the Constitution quickly.
We must remind everyone that throughout the world, mayors or chief executives are more often than not elected directly by the people. London, Washington, DC, and right here in Africa, Johannesburg, Abidjan and Dakar among others elect their mayors.
Some people may wonder why we are talking “plenty” about this when the Akufo-Addo Administration says it is going to change the Constitution to enable the election of MMDCEs. What’s our worry?
Our point is we want the election of the MMDCEs now, not later. The NPP, in its 2016 manifesto promised to “oversee the direct election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) within 24 months of election into office, to coincide with the next District Assembly elections in 2019.” Many Ghanaians applauded this and we were happy with it. This is one of the important reasons why they were voted into office.
In July 2017, the President assured the nation at the orientation for newly appointed MMDCEs that the elections would take place as promised, insisting that they would be the last batch of MMDCEs to be appointed. But a Deputy Local Government Minister, Honourable O.B. Amoah, has given reasons why Ghanaians must not expect the election of MMDCEs in 2018 or 2019, contrary to what the President had said. A few days ago, the Minister of Local Government pointed to 2021 as the most likely date for MMDCE elections.
As responsible citizens who agree with the government on this policy, we are asking and encouraging the current NPP administration to stay the course and muster the political will to undertake this all important reform that will lead to the election of MMDCEs.
We have also observed that if care is not taken, this important policy may become labeled as a purely NPP matter. That would be very wrong indeed. This is a real, national interest policy. The Minister of Local Government and her deputies must involve us, the PPP, other political parties, civil society and others as important stakeholders in all the public events on this subject we have been reading and hearing about in the media. We want the election of MMDCEs to happen and we want to state our case to the public directly why we support this government policy. At the same time, we want the opportunity to inform the nation why this policy must be implemented sooner rather than later. Accordingly, we are asking our party members to attend all public events organized on the topic of the election of MMDCEs everywhere in country and make our position clear to the people. We are also asking government to make available to us the schedule for these events.
We take President Akufo-Addo at his word that he is really in a hurry to develop the country as he says often. If he wants the development to happen quickly, then the election of MMDCEs must become one of his top priority items. When this happens, the President’s legacy will be enriched by it. Also, a second term of office is not guaranteed to anyone.
We in the PPP believe that election of MMDCEs would be a powerful, positive game changer for Ghana’s development.