The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, has urged the citizenry to massively vote “YES”, for political parties to participate in the election of metropolitan municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) in their various constituencies to help strengthen democracy in the country.
“We must come out massively to vote in favour of district level elections in the upcoming referendum which is slated for December 17, it will help enhance and strengthen the decentralisation process of governance,” she stressed.
Hajia Mahama, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nalerigu-Gambaga Constituency in the North East Region, made the call when she interacted with community members in the West Mamprusi municipality on the upcoming December 17 referendum.
This formed part of her tour to the region, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Emergency Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with the aim of assessing sanitation situation as well as come out with modalities on how to effectively and efficiently improve on the sanitation situation.
Hajia Mahama observed that “on December 17, 2019, the Electoral Commission (EC) will conduct district level elections and require the citizenry to vote for unit committees, assembly members as well as vote “Yes” or “No” to support or not to support, participation of political parties in election of MMDCEs.
“40 per cent out of total registered voters must turn out to vote, out of the percentage, 75 per cent must vote in favour of referendum to enable political parties to participate fully in district level elections, active participation of the citizenry will enable parliament to amend sections in constitution that gives the president ultimate power to appoint MMDCEs.
“The citizenry have closer functional relationship with MMDCEs and must be given the chance to elect them and I will appeal to the citizenry to help share information and encourage everyone to come out and vote massively during the referendum,” Hajia Mahama advised.
Abu Mohammed, Municipal Chief Executive for the West Mamprusi municipality, commended both ministry and UNICEF for their contributions towards improving on sanitation saying that, “Through their efforts,the municipality has improved from 24th to eighth position on Regional Open Defecation Free League Table and efforts will be made to improve on the sanitation situation”. -GNA
