Dec. 17 Referendum: ChaLoG asks Gov’t 22 ‘critical’ questions

The Akufo-Addo government has come under yet another pressure to justify the reason behind its campaign to get Ghanaians to vote ‘Yes’ in the upcoming referendum to support the politicisation of District level elections in the country.

The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG), which firmly believes the elections at the local level should not be conducted on pratisan lines,  has, through a statement, posed 22 “critical questions” to the government to answer in connection with its campaign to get Ghanaians to vote to support the amendment of Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution to allow for political party involvement in District Assembly and Local Government Unit elections.

The statement signed by ChaLoG’s President,  Dr. Richard Fiadomor; Hon Romeo Akahoho (Executive Secretary),Hon Alhaji Ibrahim F. Faila (Public Relations Officer) and
Mr. Joshua Quist (Special Duties) asked the government whether or not the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will become semi-autonomous or autonomous institutions because the MMDCEs are going to be elected on partisan basis.

ChaLoG also asked, “Why is the government not prioritizing the amendment of Article 243 (1) by parliament first before pushing very hard for Article 55 (3) to be amended through a Referendum?”

Below is the statement

CHAMBER FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE (ChaLoG)
P. O BOX SK 330, SAKUMONO ESTATES, TEMA

PRESS RELEASE

TWENTY TWO (22) CRITICAL QUESTIONS BEGGING FOR ANSWERS BEFORE GHANAIANS GO TO THE POLL ON DECEMBER 17TH TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM.

The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) has put together the under listed questions for the government which is vigorously pushing the proposal to amend Article 55(3) to allow for political party involvement in District Assembly and Local Government Unit elections to answer.

1. Why is the government not prioritizing the amendment of Article 243 (1) by parliament first before pushing very hard for Article 55 (3) to be amended through a Referendum?

2. Why is government rather waiting for a YES Vote in the Referendum before it can deal with the consequential amendments in the election of MMDCEs? Is the upcoming Referendum about election of MMDCEs?

3. Why is it that, the government did not set a specific date for Parliament to sit and amend Article 243(1) just us it did for the amendment of Article 55(3) through the Referendum?

4. Will elected MMDCEs be allowed the free hand to employ and dismiss their own staff in the various MMDAs?

5. Which Party Manifesto would opposition MMDCEs be required to implement?

6. Will elected MMDCEs be allowed the free hand to initiate their own development projects using the District Assembly Common Fund at the expense of Government flagship projects?

7. What is the winner take all advantage for a Political Party if Assembly and Unit Committee Members are elected on their party ticket?

8. Will Assembly and Unit Committee Members be paid now because they are going to be elected on partisan basis?

9. Will Assembly Members be allocated any Electoral Area Development Fund because they are now going to be elected on partisan basis?

10. Will the Regional Coordinating Councils continue to exist after the MMDCEs are elected on partisan basis?

11. Will the Office of the Head of Local Government Service continue to exist after the MMDCEs have been elected on partisan basis?

12. Will the MMDAs become semi-autonomous or autonomous institutions because the MMDCEs are going to be elected on partisan basis?

13. Will the government of the day guarantee the prompt payment of District Assemblies Common Fund to opposition MMDCEs?

14. What will happen if a Political Party issues a three line whip for its MMDCEs not to get involved in the implementation of a particular government programme or project?

15. What then becomes of the role of Chiefs if the local government system is made partisan, as the 1992 Constitution debars Chiefs from engaging in partisan politics?

16. Is it only the case that, the Local Government elections are made partisan before the local people can be afforded the opportunity to choose their own leaders?

17. Is it only the case that, MMDCEs would have to be elected on partisan basis before they can be accountable to the people?

18. Is it only the case that, MMDCEs would have to be elected on partisan basis before it can give full meaning to popular participation by allowing MMDCEs to truly represent the Central Government as required by Law?

19. Is it only the case that, MMDCEs would have to be elected on partisan basis before they can have a security of tenure?

20. Is it only the case that, without partisan politics competent people can never ever be elected as MMDCEs?

21. Is it only the case that, a person can only become popular to be elected as MMDCE if and only if he or she contests on party ticket?

22. Will Central Government continue to award contracts and make payments for and on behalf of MMDAs if MMDCEs are elected on partisan basis?

The Chamber for Local Governance patiently awaits answers to these critical questions which has the potential to further give Ghanaians a better understanding of the implications of a YES Vote at the Referendum.

Failing which, ChaLoG will continue to call on all Ghanaians to come out in their numbers on Tuesday 17th December, 2019 to reject the proposal to amend Article 55(3) by voting NO (Dark Brown Colour) to still keep our Local Government System Non Partisan for a total and holistic development in the various MMDAs devoid of partisan politics.

Long Live Local Governance
Long Live ChaLoG
Long Live Ghana
Signed
1. Dr. Richard Fiadomor President 0243138633
2. Hon Romeo Akahoho Executive Secretary 0244967680
3. Hon Alhaji Ibrahim F. Faila Public Relations Officer 0244237456
4. Joshua Quist Special Duties 0546456940

Cc
National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG)
Civil Society Organisations
Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government & Rural Development
All Diplomatic Missions
National Democratic Congress (NDC)
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Progressive Peoples Party (PPP)
Peoples National Convention (PNC)
National Democratic Party (NDP)
Christian Council of Ghana
Office of the Chief Imam
Catholic Bishops Conference
National House of Chiefs

Source: Ghana|Myxyzonline.com