Majority Leader Blasts NDC For ‘No’ Referendum

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has expressed shock over the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for advocating for a ‘No’ vote ahead of the 17th December referendum to kick against the local level elections.

According to the NDC, a 'Yes' vote will further polarise the nation, particularly local communities along the lines of NPP / NDC, and will likely lead to the creation of “NDC Communal Labour day” and “NPP Communal Labour day”, as well as “NDC market” and “NPP market”.

To the NDC, there was deliberate misinformation in the public domain that voting “YES” in the referendum was a decision that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) would now be elected.

Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the NDC’s argument at a press conference Tuesday afternoon was surprising because the minority has previously agreed with their MPs to support the 17th December referendum.

According to the Suame Member of Parliament, he is surprised how the main opposition party have taken a U-turn on the upcoming referendum to pave way for the election of MMDCEs.

He pointed out that the election of the MMDCEs would ensure that those voted into power are accountable to the people within the district instead of the government in power.

With the members of the District Assemblies already elected directly “in an allegedly non-partisan way,” the Minister noted that it is an open secret that these elections are partisan, and the political parties are deeply involved.

The referendum seeks to amend the constitution to give electorates the power to elect directly their own MMDCEs.