Local Governance expert Issaka Amon Kotei has noted significant challenges with the proposal to politicise the elections of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He argues that opening the process to political parties to field candidates will further exacerbate the monetisation of Ghana’s electoral system.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM, he stated that claims suggesting politicisation would ensure accountability lack merit—citing, for example, the election of Members of Parliament and their questionable levels of accountability to the electorate.
He stressed the need for caution as the country considers electing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) along partisan lines.
“Proposing the election of MMDCEs is troubling. I have serious concerns about that. If the argument is that electing MMDCEs will promote accountability, then I ask: have our MPs been truly accountable to their electorates? That accountability argument simply doesn’t hold water.
We’re the same people who have complained that our elections are already heavily monetized—so why create yet another avenue for that through partisan elections of MMDCEs?
No politician is a Father Christmas. When they spend money to secure votes, they will look for ways to recover those costs. We need to look at this issue from a holistic perspective and avoid introducing yet another problem into our political space.”
He added that if MPs are spending over Ghc2 million to win elections, then how much can we expect others who aspire to contest as MMDCEs to spend in order to get elected?
He further noted that the assemblies are an extension of the presidency, and, in the event that an opposition person is elected in a district or metro, it could potentially trigger serious conflicts and tensions between the central government and the said assembly or assemblies.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
