Residents of AblekumaCentral in the Greater Accra Region had been schooled on the upcoming referendum which seeks to amend Article 55 (3) to enable political parties to sponsor candidates for election to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
The forum which was organised by the Ablekuma Central Community Action for Developments (ACCAD), a community- based Non-Government Organisation was to educate the people for the proposed referendumscheduled on December, 17, 2019.
It brought together candidates for the district level elections, traditional authorities, religious groups and other stakeholders within the municipality.
Addressing the gathering Saturday at the Max Doudo Presbyterian Church in Accra, Mrs Comfort Azalletey, Ablekuma Central Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), urged Ghanaians to participate massively in the exercise.
She said the referendum was a constitutional requirement and would be held alongside district level elections on the proposed date.
Mrs Azalletey emphasised that, the proposed amendments to the constitution would allow the direct election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and allow political parties to be involved in local elections.
She said the referendum was to seek the opinions of Ghana as to whether the citizenry support political parties’ involvement in local government elections, hence, the call for all Ghanaians to partake in the exercise.
Mr Paul AborampahMensah, a leading member, Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) said the referendum was a constitutional mandate which must be respected.
He said no Ghanaian should be influenced not topartaking the exercise, stressing that all opinions must be respected in shaping Ghana’s elections.
Mr Mensah, however, expressed the view that, allowing party colours and logo, as experienced in presidential and parliamentary elections would increase participation at the local government elections.
President for ACCAD, Mr Ebenezer Annang said the role of ACCAD was to empower and educate communities onpolicies and programmes of government such as the upcoming referendum.
He said ACCAD was also working as an advocacyand fighting for development as well as encourage communities in governance process and hold authority accountable as well.
“We also strongly believe that to achieve the development we desire and hold authority accountable, the community also has some responsibility such as keeping the community clean, the payment of tax to improve government revenue,” he said.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
