The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment has no plans for the election of District Chief Executives by universal adult suffrage, the sector Minister, Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko, emphasised in Parliament yesterday.

'Mr Speaker, as it stands now and until Article 243 of the Constitution is amended, my ministrry has no plan for the election of DCEs,' he said.

The minister said this in an answer to a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Krachi West, Mr Francis Yaw Osei-Sarfo, who asked him the plans the ministry had to elect DCEs.

Article 243 of the 1992 Constitution states that 'there shall be a District Chief Executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with the approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting'.

In another development, the MP for North Dayi, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, asked the minister why Kpando District, one of the oldest and biggest District Assemblies in terms of size and population, had not been raised to a municipal status or split into two for efficient and effective administration.

Replying, Mr Adjei Darko said the Kpando District Assembly was split into two in 2004 to enhance the administration of the area. The South Dayi District Assembly was created from the Kpando District Assembly.

'Mr Speaker, as a district with only one constituency, Kpando District was not split into two in the recent exercise, since the Electoral Commission was not ready to increase the number of constituencies for the 2008 elections,' the minister said.

The MP for Central Tongu, Mr Joe Gidisu, further asked the minister the plans that his ministry had put in place to construct the Mafi Kumase, Battor and Adidome markets.

In his reply, Mr Adjei Darko said the North Tongu District Assembly awarded the contract for the construction of the Mafi Kumase market to Messrs Criffpan Company Limited with funding from the Community-Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP).

He said work progressed steadily on commencement and stalled after three months and added that upon inspection, the Regional Rural Infrastructure Co-ordinating Unit (RICU) staff recommended that the works content should be evaluated again.

'In July 2007, the new measurements were taken and the value of works was established to be GH¢156,194. An emergency meeting of the District Tender Review Committee approved the revision on October 10, 2007,' he said.

According to him, the District Assembly requested RICU to fund the additional cost of the contract, adding that upon the receipt of the request for additional funding, the Zonal Co-ordinator notified the District Assembly that CBRDP had no funds available to cover such additional cost.
 
The minister said the assembly was, therefore, advised to do the work in phases to ensure that sections started could be completed and put in use whilst other sources of funding were explored.

Story by Kweku Tsen