By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Participants of this year's Annual New Year School and Conference have voted massively in support of the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
The election christened 'Mock Referendum', gave participants the opportunity to vote on the subject "Do you support the election of MMDCEs"-Yes or No, ahead of a referendum scheduled on September 2019.
Out of the total number of 225 participants, 198 of them voted 'Yes', representing 88 per cent, while 26 participants voted 'No', representing 11.5 per cent with one rejected vote, representing 0.5 per cent.
Mr O.B.Amoah, the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, speaking at an open forum at the closing ceremony of the 2019 New Year School and Conference on Thursday in Accra, said a referendum leading to the amendment of the Article 55 (3) of the Constitution would be held in September, 2019 alongside the district elections.
He said the amendment to the article was critical if MMDCEs would be elected on partisan basis through a universal adult suffrage system.
The referendum is a proposed national roadmap for the elections, expected to take off on 2021 and would give Ghanaians the opportunity to vote in favour of or against the election of MMDCEs on partisan lines.
Mr Amoah explained that the election on partisan basis would ensure orderliness in the process of the election because each political party would elect members from their primaries.
He said since the President of the Republic and Member of Parliaments were elected, it was prudent for MMDCEs to be elected in ensuring consistency and inclusive governance for all political parties.
Mr Amoah said under the election system of MMDCEs, when a political party wins an election, the President will not have to appoint the MMDCEs, adding that, the system would deepen democracy and ensure inclusiveness as some MMDAs would be occupied by the opposition parties.
He said the Ministry had consulted relevant stakeholders on the best possible ways of having local leaders elected on partisan basis.
“A draft Bill for amendment of the article has been approved by Cabinet and sent to the Speaker of Parliament who has sent it to the Council of State for advice. The Council of State has given its advice and the Attorney General has since gazetted the Bill", he added.
He said, the Ministry was collaborating with key institutions including; the Electoral Commission and the National Commission for Civic Education to ensure that the public was adequately sensitised to ensure a successful referendum in September 2019, alongside the District Assemblies election.
Dr Eric Oduro Osae, the Dean of Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government Studies, said the election of MMDCEs would ensure that the tenure of office of the Chief Executives are guaranteed and secured without threats by party executives.
According to Mr Osae, the system would allow the opposition parties to use the platform as a training ground to inform the community about their policies when given the nod and urged Ghanaians to vote in support of the election of MMDCEs since it would also provide the Government with alternative ideas to reshape their policies irrespective of their political affiliations.
Some of the participants suggested to government to resource state institutions and avoid interferences in the performance of their duties.
They urged government to enforce the rules and regulations to sanitise institutions that flouted the provisions of the law.
"We call on government to review the country's Constitution especially on local governance to meet modern best practices", they added.
GNA
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