The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Josephine Nkrumah, has observed that the amendment of Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution will allow political parties to participate in district level elections, promote and sustain participatory democracy.
“The processes will empower the citizenry to directly elect competent leaders who will work for the growth and development of communities, provision of quality of services and promotion of inclusive local governance.
“I appeal to Ghanaians to fully participate in upcoming district level election and referendum on December 17, to amend entrenched provision that bans political parties from taking part in district level elections,” Ms Nkrumah stressed.
She made the observation in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region at the regional launch of a public sensitisation and awareness raising campaign on the district level elections and referendum for amendment of Article 55 (3) of the constitution.
Ms Nkrumah pointed out that “currently, the constitution has vested only the president with authority to nominate and subsequently appoint metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives and has further banned political parties from sponsoring candidates in the district level elections which created lack of accountability, probity, transparency, corruption and underdevelopment.
“The referendum must garner at least 40 per cent voter turnout of total registered voters and at least 75 per cent of that number must vote yes to the proposal, over the years, district level elections have recorded low patronage with 35 per cent, the highest turnout to have ever been recorded.
“Civic education is shared responsibility, all stakeholders must assist the commission to intensify education, sensitisation and awareness drive to make the citizenry appreciate significance of December 17referendum,” Ms Nkrumah intimated.
Baba Apaabey, the Regional Director of NCCE, explained that the commission had undertaken nationwide exercise in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Electoral Commission and Information Services Department and admonished the youth to fully participate in referendum and district level elections.
Adongo Fuseini, the Deputy Regional Minister, said the election of metropolitan municipal and district chief executives by the electorates would eliminate the winner takes all syndrome and improve quality of governance at the local level. -GNA
