MDCEs call on public to vote 'YES' in upcoming referendum

By Rita Avoka, GNA

Bolgatanga, Nov. 12, GNA - Some Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the Upper East region have urged the public to go for a 'YES' vote in the upcoming December 17 referendum.

It seeks to amend the entrenched provision of Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution to pave way for political parties to contest for district assembly elections including the election of assembly chief executives.

They made the call at a forum organized by the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) to sensitize its members and key stakeholders on the referendum and District Assembly members and Unit Committees elections, in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region.

Speaking at the event, Mr Peter Ayinbisa, District Chief Executive of Bongo, said it was a commendable decision by Central government to relinquish power to the people to elect MMDCEs at the local level.

He said it would encourage the people to participate in governance and also hold MMDCEs and Assembly members accountable for their stewardship.

Mr Williams Aduum, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Kassena Nankana Municipal, lauded the decision to elect MMDCEs, saying  "the winner takes all" process should be avoided.

He urged his colleague MMDCEs to assist the entire process to ensure that only qualified persons were elected to manage the assemblies.

Mr Bismarck Baisie Nkum, President, NALAG, and DCE for Gomoa West, said giving citizens the mandate to elect their own MMDCEs was the way to go for all growing democracies because when the people had power” they are able to decide what is good for them and who can best represent them”.

Mr Nkum stated that even though Ghana was the first sub-Sahara African country to have gained independence, most African countries had been able to adopt and coexist with the decentralization process which Ghana was implementing.

Mr Nkum urged the public to turn out and vote adding that, for the entrenched provision to be amended, at least 40 per cent of Ghanaian eligible voters would be required to vote and at least 75 per cent of the 40 per cent must vote in favour of the referendum.

In attendance were some Former Assembly members and Presiding Members, chiefs and opinion leaders.

GNA

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