News:
February 20, 2025
The Member of Parliament for Jirapa, Cletus Seidu Dapilah has a different view on the debate regarding the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
He said the conversation should rather be about making the Assemblies independent before bringing in the conversation of how MMDCEs are chosen.
“Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) should not be elected; rather the Assemblies should be made independent and well resourced”.
He affirmed that the first step should be to amend the constitution to make the Assemblies independent and also ensure that they generate their own funds and also involve themselves in business ventures to keep the Assemblies working.
Again, the Assemblies should be able to contract loans and have investments of their own, “before we think of conducting elections for MMDCEs”.
In an interview with Ghanamps.com the former District Chief Executive of Jirapa further revealed that MMDCEs are under Article 71 holders and the President is supposed to appoint them.
Additionally, the Assemblies are to write proposals and get the support of government to contract loans.
“What are the criteria in electing the MMDCEs? Are you going to open it up for whoever qualifies to contest, like the way people can contest Assembly elections same with parliamentary elections?” He queried.
Let us look at the law and review it; the Local Government Act, does not allow Assemblies to contract loans so they are not independent. “Many of their challenges hinges on inadequate funding, the MMDCAs are not financially sound, and rely on the benevolence of Central government, he added.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com