By Christopher Arko, GNA
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – Stakeholders at a forum on Local Governance and Decentralisation Reforms have welcomed the renewed debate on Ghana’s local governance system but have raised concerns over the Government’s proposal to maintain a non-partisan election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
In its response to the recommendations of the Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh-led Constitution Review Committee, the Government proposed a model under which the President would nominate five candidates for each MMDCE position.
The Public Services Commission, acting as a vetting body, would then shortlist three candidates from whom citizens would elect one, while retaining the non-partisan nature of the elections.
The proposal has, however, come under scrutiny from governance and civil society stakeholders, who have questioned its practicality and whether it addresses longstanding challenges within Ghana’s decentralisation system.
The concerns were raised at a Citizens’ Forum organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), in partnership with Oxfam on the topic: “Public Expectations and the Future of Local Governance: Where Is the Evidence Leading Us?”, which examined citizens’ expectations and the future direction of local governance in Ghana.
Participants questioned whether the proposed arrangement would offer citizens meaningful choices and strengthen the accountability of local executives to the communities they serve.
They argued that simply introducing elections would not be enough if the President continues to exercise significant influence over the selection of candidates.
In their view, the proposed model differs little from the current system, under which the President nominates MMDCEs subject to approval by members of the District Assemblies.
The stakeholders further contended that the proposal could exclude independent candidates and popular community-based aspirants, thereby limiting voter choice and potentially worsening participation in District Assembly elections, which already experience low voter turnout.
Mr Douglas Quartey, a civil society and local governance practitioner, said citizens wanted the opportunity to elect local executives whom they could question and hold accountable for decisions affecting their communities.
He noted that where local executives emerged through a selection process heavily influenced by the President, their primary accountability may remain with the central government rather than the citizens they are expected to serve.
Mr Quartey argued that the debate should go beyond whether Ghanaians should be allowed to vote for their MMDCEs.
Instead, he said, attention should be focused on strengthening local democracy by creating opportunities for citizens to choose among competing candidates and development visions for their communities.
He added that retaining presidential control over the nomination process was unlikely, on its own, to significantly improve participation in District Assembly elections.
The Citizens’ Forum, on the theme: “Constitutional Reform and Democratic Decentralisation in Ghana: The Way Forward for Local Governance,” brought together representatives of civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth groups, academia, and development partners to deliberate on practical solutions to Ghana’s local governance challenges.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe