CPP Kick Against Pushing Back MMDCEs Election

The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has kicked against the decision by the government to push back the election of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to 2021.

Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, its National Chairman and Leader, said they were completely surprised by the sudden change of heart by the ruling party.

He expressed the sentiment, when he spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

He said even though most of the political parties were united in their position that MMDCEs should be elected, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) could not burden any in-coming government, come 2021, with their unfulfilled manifesto pledge.

'Ghanaians must hold the current government accountable as their Election 2016 manifesto tagged 'Change an agenda for jobs,' the party was clear on the election of MMDCEs.

NPP cannot now begin to sing a new song for us to dance.'

Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, is reported to have said that the election of MMDCEs would happen in 2021 and gave the assurance that although it was going whittle down the President's enormous executive powers at local level of governance, the government was committed to giving up that power to deepen the country's democracy.

This was when she shared the tentative timetable of the activities of the Ministry towards the election of MMDCEs at a round-table discussion organised by the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) and the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC).

Prof Delle said he was wondering whether the perceived fear of the taking away of the powers of the President at the local level, was the reason for the political u-turn.

The NPP in its manifesto was unequivocal that if elected the party would push for the direct election of MMDCEs within 24 months in office, 'majority of Ghanaians accepted and voted for the NPP, the President and his team cannot change from that election promise'.

He said the CPP believed their election was crucial for the effective administration at the local level.

'The local people are yearning for the election of their leaders. There should not be interference. The NPP promised us that within 24 months they are going to elect Chief Executives, they must deliver'.

Prof Delle said he found it disheartening that the sense of purpose and urgency which the CPP under Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah brought to national development had been missing since 1966.

'It is time we restore it. Our people can wait no longer. We believe that the State has a binding commitment to use its power to promote high rates of economic growth and development as well as to ensure that the wealth thereof is shared equitably among Ghanaians - North and South, East and West.

Government must work together with all Ghanaians to create a prosperous, just, safe, caring and united society where there is adequate food and shelter for all and there are ample opportunities for every Ghanaian to develop his or her personal and social potential to its fullest.

We believe that unless political power is placed in the hands of the people the search for real and lasting solutions to our political and social economic problems will remain elusive.'

GNA
By Francis Ameyibor, GNA