President Nana Akufo-Addo has ordered for the withdrawal of the Bill to amend Article 243(1) of the Constitution which allows the President to appoint Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
In a national address where he announced the cancellation of the December 17 referendum that was to decide on an amendment of Article 55 (3) of the Constitution to enable political parties to participate in local level elections, the President also put on hold plans that would also allow for the election of MMDCEs as promised.
“It is with deep regret that I have given instructions to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development …to abort the process and see to the withdrawal of the Bills for the amendment of the Constitutions both in respect of Article 243 (1) and Article 55 (3).”
Per Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, District Chief Executives for every district are to be appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting.
Whilst the President attributed the decision to cancel the referendum to the absence of “a durable national consensus” on the matter, he did not explain why the Bill to amend Article 243 (1) was also withdrawn despite the fact that it had seeming bipartisan backing.
Though the opposition the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had started advocating for a NO vote, it did not voice opposition to the election of MMDCEs.
The party was only worried that an amendment to Article 55 (3) will open district assemblies and unit committees to “the needless NDC-NPP polarisation.”
The NDC’s flagbearer, John Mahama also backed his party’s position suggesting that an amendment of Article 243(1) of the constitution was more necessary.
Observers have also stressed that the election of MMDCEs will be a massive step forward for Ghana’s democracy.
The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, said the possible election of MMDCEs would be President Akufo-Addo’s best legacy.
A current Municipal Chief Executive, for the Adentan Municipal Assembly, Nii Noi Adumoah, also noted that voting for MMDCEs along political party lines will improve decentralisation and deepen democracy.
The post Nana Addo directs withdrawal of ‘MMDCEs election’ Bill from Parliament appeared first on Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana, Current Affairs, Business News , Headlines, Ghana Sports, Entertainment, Politics, Articles, Opinions, Viral Content.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS