Statement: IDEG-CFI CALLS FOR REFORM OF THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTRICT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONSThe Electoral Commission has rescheduled the District Assembly elections in 8 out 10 regions in Ghana. Central and Upper West were held on 28 December 2010 while the remaining 8 regions will now take place on the 29 and 30 December. This has been attributed to the inability of printing firms to complete the printing of ballot papers for all the ten regions. This decision has far reaching consequences that ought to be carefully analyzed to inform decision on future local government elections.From the perspective of Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) the major source of the problem has been the apparent failure of the relevant state institutions such as Ministry of Local Government, Parliament, Ministry of Finance and the Electoral Commission (EC) to complete their preparation towards local government elections in good time.There was late submission and passage of the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1983 by Parliament, there were also several changes in the date for the elections, from the expected month of July to October 26 and finally to December 28. There had been delays in the release of funds from central government to the EC. The result is that the elections are now taking place at the peak of the Christmas holidays. This is likely to reinforce voter apathy. For instance in 2002, voter turnout was 33 per cent, while in 2006 it was 44 per cent.The situation this year is more serious because CSOs, media and the political parties have not engaged the electoral process actively. The vetting of candidates and getting their campaign messages across to the public have not been effectively done and the electorate has not been able to effectively assess the candidates on the key governance and developmental issues of interest to their communities. Furthermore the EC that has not been able to organize platforms for candidates in all the 6000 electoral areas as required.In the circumstance there is the risk that voter turn-out could be lower, electoral malpractices could occur and the quality of voters' decision poor. To tackle these challenges 1DEG-CF1 wish to appeal to the media, traditional leaders, faith- based organizations to actively encourage citizens in the communities to turn out in their large numbers to vote and also to stay vigilant against electoral malpractices. To improve the organization of local government elections in the future we make the following recommendations:• A mandatory date be set for local government elections as is the case in national elections. This will ensure that the relevant state agencies play their roles in the organization of district assembly elections effectively and in time• The regulatory framework for local government elections should be reviewed to enable key stakeholders to participate in the management of the process, along the lines of the national elections.In view of the enhanced roles that the elected assemblies are likely to play in accelerating development at the local level within Ghana's emerging oil and middle income economy, it is important that voter apathy is minimized, quality of elected candidates improved and accountable and effective governance at the local level strengthened.Signed:Major-General N.C. Coleman For: The Civic Forum Initiative