The National Catholic Secretariat has held a day’s stakeholder conference in Accra, on accountable local governance.
It was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and brought together government officials and leaders of various political parties and religious bodies in the country.
The event was aimed at providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss issues concerning responsible governance and raising public awareness about the upcoming referendum on the amendment of article (55) of the 1992 constitution.
Government, proposed the direct election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on the basis of political party representation, rather than appointment by the president.
However, as article 55 (3) of the 1992 constitution prohibits political party sponsorship of candidates for elections to district assemblies or local government units, the government proposed a referendum, slated for December this year, to amend the constitution, to allow for the election of MMDCEs based on political party representation.
President of the GCBC, Most Reverend Philip Naameh, in a speech read on his behalf, said the overall purpose of local governance in any democracy from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) was that, the political agenda must never lose sight of creating social structures that would guarantee the political participation of the public for shared political responsibility.
Calling for more awareness to be created on the referendum, he said his outfit supports efforts of governments and stakeholders that enhance the capacity of the people, to make decisions that affect their lives and respective communities.
According to him, the CST on local governance perceived local organisations and associations to have the right to pursue their fundamental choices as far as their distinctive characteristics were concerned, without imposition from the central government.
Most Rev. Naameh revealed that his outfit always seeks to protect the citizenry from any form of abuse by higher social authorities, adding that ” any form of centralisation or unjustified excessive presence at local level governance but the state is deemed to destroy not just the spirit of freedom of local governance, but also local initiative and shared participation.
He mentioned that the social teachings of the Catholic Church were based on sacred scriptures that have always valued the principles of democracy.
The national Chief Imam in a speech read on his behalf reiterated the need for increased awareness on the referendum to ensure that the citizenry were aware of the impact of the choices they will make during the elections.
He was of the conviction that the move would deepen the country’s democracy and also promote development.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr Asiedu Nketia said the election of DCEs and MMDCEs would go a long way in reducing corruption.
He urged the public to participate fully in the process, when the times arrive, to promote democracy and patriotism.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU AND ALBERTA BRONI
