Referendum: CHaLoG chides Government over withdrawal 

The Chamber for Local Governance (CHaLog) has criticized the government’s decision to withdraw the Bill on the Amendment of Article 243(1) which would have afforded Ghanaians the opportunity to elect their Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on partisan basis.

According to CHaLoG, government’s decision to call off the referendum shows that “the government was all along not committed to the amendment of Article 243(1)” 

In a press statement released today, signed by the association’s president, Dr Richard Fiadonor, and copied to ghananewsonline.com.gh, they asserted that the government’s decision to withdraw Article 243 (1) amendment bill shows its unwillingness to fulfill earlier promise of approving elections of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

They mentioned that, the NPP prior to the 2016 elections promised to “oversee the direct election of MMDCEs within 24 months of election into office”, yet, according to CHaLoG the Akufo-Addo – led government has shown no positive signs of fulfilling its promise to Ghanaians.

They asserted that, the election of MMDCEs on nonpartisan basis is still doable and should be pursued by the government.

CHaLoG has therefore called on the “Government to rescind its decision to withdraw the bill to amend Article 243 (1) from Parliament to afford Ghanaians the opportunity to elect their own MMDCEs.”

Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh