Minister Designate for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Kweku Botwe, has suggested, that a percentage of Members of Parliament (MPs), not directly elected, should be appointed to strengthen the country’s current legislative system.
Citing the Tanzanian example, the Minister Designate suggested that instead of thinking of a second House of Parliament, the main political parties should deliberate on improving the existing political party structures.
Dan Botwe made these observations when he appeared before the Appointments Committee on Tuesday. He told the Committee that when the political parties are well structured, the problem of monetization of politics in the country will be solved.
The nominee was also questioned on the creation of the six new regions which he championed, and how these affected the local government structures across the country. These regions were created when he was the Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development.
A joint committee from the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe and Lolobi (SALL) Traditional Areas petitioned the Appointments Committee over the role the nominee played in the removal of Lolobi and Akpafu from the Hohoe Municipality despite their objection. The nominee insisted that the creation of the new regions went through the appropriate legal procedures, including a Constitutional Instrument (CI) that was approved by Parliament.
He also answered questions on the payment of property rates to the Assemblies, the concept of decentralization and the increment of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), among others.