Some journalists are calling for a review of law prohibiting partisanship in District Assembly elections. According to them, this will increase public interest in local polls to make them more relevant to national aspirations. Proponents want the Local Government Act and all laws restricting political parties from sponsoring and campaigning for candidates amended. The journalists made the observations at a two-day training workshop organized by the Institute for Democratic Governance, IDEG and the Civic Forum Initiative. It is part of efforts to whip up media, and for that matter, citizens' interest. Participants came from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern and Upper East Regions. They were taken through voter education, election observation, resolution of election- related conflicts and tenets in the current District Election laws, among others. Governance experts say the District Assembly concept, introduced in 1988 was designed to bring political and administrative authority to the doorstep of the citizenry. It was also to ensure the execution of programmes and strategies for effective mobilization of resources for overall development of each district. But many are of the view the assembly concept has failed to live-up to expectations of the citizenry because major players have failed to perform their mandated responsibilities. This has over the years brought about voter apathy whilst women participation in the process has dwindled. Though the media have been identified as one of the actors to change perception about District Assembly concept, some journalists believe a total overhaul of the law books to create a window for political parties will be a motivator. "If you look at it, at the national level, Presidential and Parliamentary is all about political parties involvement but down there, district assembly elections - it is non-partisan and as such people's interest is dwindling. There is time now for us to at least involve political parties in that aspect," one journalist said. Said another journalist, "I feel when we politicize district assembly elections, it would be better because looking at the current trend of political atmosphere now, you will find political parties sponsoring candidates in the dark, and that will in the long run pose problems to the assembly." Project Officer at IDEG, Kojo Impraim, however disagrees. He says Ghana has not reached the stage where its grassroots participatory decision making unit should be tainted with politics. Mr. Impraim rather proposes the election of District Chief Executives in order to make them accountable to the people and not the President. He also argued that institutions within the district assembly framework should be strengthened to make them work as required. "We could practice the partisan governance at the national level but the local level it is non partisan but one key that makes it confusing is the appointment of DCE." According to him, "that should not be the case… the DCE must be elected so that when you (DCE) are not performing, the people have the mandate to get you out of power as it has been the case of MPs," he explained. Story By: Ohemeng Tawiah/-Nhyira Fm/Kumasi-Ghana