The President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has backed the ‘Yes’ campaign in the December 17 Referendum, contrary to the position of the National House of Chiefs.

The Okyenhene had earlier stated that the position of the national body was not taken through due process.

However, a reply signed by the President of the House and his deputy, dismissed the claims, insisting that the matter had been discussed thoroughly by the National House of Chiefs.

The statement called the dissenters dishonest and mischievous.

To emphasise his dissent, the Okyenhene has now come out to back changing the constitution to allow political parties field candidates for District Level Elections.

The country would go to the polls on December 17 to accept or reject the amendment to Article 55/3 of the Constitution.

The clause bars political parties from elections at the district assemblies or lower local government units.

Ahead of a parliamentary procedure to amend Article 243/1 of the constitution to take away the power of the President to appoint MMDCEs and make it an elected one, Ghanaians are being asked to amend Article 55/3 which is entrenched hence can only be amended in a referendum.

The matter has since sprouted division among experts and top players in the political space including the two biggest political parties with the opposition NDC strongly campaigning for ‘No’ votes.

Meanwhile, the Okyenhene has explained his backing of the Yes campaign.

“Political parties are established and recognised public platforms that shapes, plans and evolve strategies and ideas for social-economic development, and cannot be excluded in the crucial area of local government,” he wrote.

Read his full statement below

PUBLIC STATEMENT

--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

OKYENHENE ENDORSES THE YES VOTE FOR THE DECEMBER 17TH REFERENDUM

18TH NOVEMBER, 2019

The Okyenhene and President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs wishes to express his support for the amendment of article 55(3) of the Constitution which will provide the choice for Ghanaians to contest for local government office on either partisan or non-partisan platforms.

The Osagyefuo welcomes the amendment with the understanding that it limits the executive authority of the President and thus provide the needed space for greater citizen participation in governance.

Political parties are established and recognized public platforms that shapes, plans and evolve strategies and ideas for social economic development, and cannot be excluded in the crucial area of local government.

Political party participation in local government politics is practiced all over the world; Ghana cannot remain an exception.

Under the current system, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are appointed by a partisan President who also by unchecked discretion chooses a third of the membership of the Assembly.

Most MMDCEs are rejected partisan politicians at the polls (defeated parliamentary candidates) who later by intrigues and back door tactics of central government impose themselves on the people.

A clear example can be sighted in the fact that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was rejected in the Volta Region in 2016, however it places its defeated parliamentary candidates as Municipal and District Chief Executives by means of the appointing authority of the President to supervise social and economic programmes which does not meet the approval of the people and their communities.

In the same way the National Democratic Congress (NDC) appointed a thrice rejected parliamentary candidate, the late Simon Asirifi as the East Akyem Municipal Chief Executive.  The story never ended well.

This situation is unacceptable and incompatible with the objectives of inclusive and transparent local government system; a key factor to the furtherance of the goal of national development and progress.

The Osagyefuo however wishes to state that the amendment of Article 55(3) is not far reaching.  There will be need for broader legal and administrative reforms to ensure the financial independence of local governments, particularly with regards to the administration of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).

The current situation where contracts and projects are concluded in Accra and funded through the DACF without the consent of the local authorities poses the gravest challenge to the decentralization programme.

The Okyenhene however wishes to commend Government for the bold initiative to amend Article 55(3) of the Constitution as a positive step in the uphill task of total decentralization.

It is Osagyefuo’s stance that calls from certain quarters urging the good people of Ghana to vote against the amendment of the Constitution should be ignored.  It is not founded on a well-considered understanding of the greater national interest.

Signed

D. M. OFORI ATTA

STATE SECRETARY