Most Reverend
Philip Naameh, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale in the Northern Region,
has expressed worry at the low public education, sensitisation and awareness on
the impending referendum to amend Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution to
legitimise the full participation of political parties.
“The nationwide sensitisation education and
awareness on the referendum will inform the electorate to make the proper
decision on whether to allow political parties to participate in the election
of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) even though
the referendum is expected to take place on December 17, 2019, little is heard
of it in public discourse,” he bemoaned.
Archbishop Naameh expressed his sentiments at
the launch of the Regional/Diocesan sensitisation programme on the upcoming
referendum and election of MMDCEs organised by the Ghana Catholic Bishops
Conference in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), in Tamale.
It was on the theme; ‘Participation of Political
Parties and Citizens in the District Level Elections’, and provided platform
for stakeholders to discuss theme with view of raising public awareness and
interest.
According to Archbishop Naameh, “There are no
usual commentaries and debates with elections and politics as experienced in
recent times. Despite our development infrastructure being based on effective, efficient
mobilisation of local resources, participation of local people in governance is
worrying with important national exercise not receiving level of participation
needed for discussions among the citizenry.
“There is the need for increased awareness
creation, sensitisation and education on the referendum by stakeholders and
pledge support and assistance of the Catholic Church in deepening to enable
full participation of the citizenry in the exercises to enhance accountability,
probity, transparency, democracy and accelerate development,” he appealed.
Alhaji Abdul Saani, the Northern Regional
Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), explained that
the referendum was not for election of MMDCEs, but seeking inputs from the
citizenry to amend article 55 (3) to allow district level elections to be
conducted on partisan basis, referendum must record 40 per cent voter turnout
and out of the number, 75 per cent must vote “Yes” to confirm proposal.
Francis
Asobayire, Assistant Northern Regional State Attorney, said local level
elections had recorded low turnouts over the years and appealed to the
citizenry to actively participate in the national exercise to achieve the 40
per cent turnout and 70 per cent “Yes” votes. -GNA
