Franklin Cudjoe, the president of policy think tank, IMANI Africa, has stated that the election of Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will empower the citizenry to speak up and share their opinions with the local authorities when there are issues in the communities, since they voted them into power.
“If the election of MMDCEs comes to pass, what it means is that the assemblies will be more empowered because now power will reside in the citizenry, when that is done, I suspect citizens who flout rules will be significantly dealt with.
“The decision was President Akufo-Addo’s promise to ensure a shift from the current system of appointing MMDCEs which some have argued makes a president too powerful and prevents them from being directly accountable and transparent to the citizenry.
“The election of MMDCEs will be President Nana Akufo-Addo’s best legacy, one of the most important legacies which is devolving power to the citizenry, I think it is his best legacy by the way since the government began a campaign to encourage involvement in the upcoming national referendum on the election of MMDCEs by universal adult suffrage,” Mr Cudjoe noted.
The referendum needs at least 40 per cent voter turnout and 75 per cent ‘yes’ votes for the election of MMDCEs to be adopted and the referendum is also for the amendment of Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution to allow for the citizenry election of MMDCEs which is expected to come off on December 17, 2019, alongside the district level elections. -citinewsroom.com
