The Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru Constituency in the Birim South District Eastern Region, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko*, has called on the NPP to reject the government’s White Paper on the election of MMDCEs if it does not allow for a competitive process open to all qualified Ghanaians.
According to the MP, deepening decentralization and grassroots participation in local governance requires that every interested Ghanaian be allowed to contest for the position of MMDCE without political interference.
He urged the party to strongly oppose the proposal by the ruling party to shortlist only five members from their own party to contest.
Hon. Osei Nyarko noted that the main aim of electing MMDCEs is to end the “winner-takes-all” system in our governance, which over the years has produced partisanship, acrimonious politics, and ultimately destructive politics.
“If we want citizens to fully participate in governance at the grassroots level and have a voice and control over who becomes their leaders at the local level, then the process must be open and competitive,” he said.
He stated that President Akufo-Addo’s proposal for the competitive election of MMDCEs on both party and independent lines was the best approach, similar to how we elect leaders at the national level.
The MP added that the current proposal by the Mahama-led administration is not the best and has the potential to further divide the country.
“It’s either we do it better, or we maintain the current status-quo,” Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko concluded.
Report by Raskorsa.