NDC Votes No to December Referendum
The National Democratic Congress has urged Ghanaians to vote against the arrangement to subject local government elections to partisan politics.
According to the opposition, the proposed amendment of Article 55 (3) of the 1992 constitution which seeks to introduce partisan local government elections, will continually divide the country along party lines.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, asserted that, the local government system needs to stay free of political influence and that, individuals should contest District Assembly and Unit Committee elections on their own merit.
The chairman expressed fear at possible polarization in root societies should the amendment be assented to. He mentioned that, the people will be torn between “NDC market” and “NPP market”, or “NDC Communal Labour day” and “NPP Communal Labour day” if the intentions of the government and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is made to stand.
“We therefore, decided to campaign for a NO vote at the referendum and to urge all Ghanaians to vote NO at the referendum”
The referendum
Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution states that “subject to the provisions of this article, a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character and sponsor candidates for elections to any public office other than to district assemblies or lower government units”
This entrenched provision in the constitution prohibits partisan interference in local government elections hence the need for the referendum to amend it. Voting for the proposed amendment has been slated for December 17, 2019.
The NDC as a party is of the view that the proposed amendment is needless and should have been subjected to intense public discussion as it is required for holding a referenda.
Source: Jonas Danquah