Referendum: Traditional Leaders unite against YES votes

The National House of Chiefs – a constitutional body mandated to be advising the President on critical national issues has urged Ghanaians to outrightly reject the proposal by the government to introduce partisan politics into local governance system.

They argued that, amending Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution to allow political parties to sponsor candidates into District Assemblies or Local Government elections will be counterproductive to local governance.

In a press statement released today, signed by the Association’s Vice President, Daasebre Nana Kwebu Ewusi VII, and copied to ghananewsonline.com, the house asserted that partisan politics at the local government level will be accompanied by controversies, corruption and indecency associated with politics at the national level.

“We are concerned that the introduction of partisan politics into local government will be accompanied by the unwholesome political culture and the corruption associated with partisan politics, which has already done a lot of harm to the society and economy”

The house expressed worry about possible unhealthy polarization of all issues and marginalization of citizens who do not belong to the ruling party in local governance if the proposal is given a green-light in the December 11 referendum.

Daasebre Nana Kweku Ewusi VII mentioned that, the appointment of 30% Government nominees into local assemblies has been meddled with by partisan politics which is a “total travesty of good principles of good governance”.

The house therefore entreated Ghanaians to reject the referendum due to the negative implications it could have on local governance.

Source: Jonas Danquah || ghananewsonline.com.gh