After decades of low voter turnout and disengagement in local elections, the Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, is advocating for a shift in the electoral system for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

He has proposed the introduction of partisan elections for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), arguing that the current non-partisan system has failed to engage the electorate and promote accountability.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show, Dr Akwetey emphasised that although political parties are officially excluded from participating in MMDA elections, their influence remains undeniable. "Political parties are already deeply involved in MMDA elections, whether the law allows it or not," he said. "This involvement is happening informally, which weakens the integrity of the system and compromises its transparency."

Dr Akwetey’s proposal comes amidst decades of low voter turnout in MMDA elections, which has consistently hovered around 34-35%.

He believes that this persistent disengagement highlights the fundamental flaws in the current non-partisan model. "For over three decades, the non-partisan system has failed to inspire voters. It’s clear that this approach is not working, and it’s time to reconsider how we conduct local elections," he stated.

Advocating for partisan elections, Dr Akwetey argued that involving political parties would create stronger competition, increase voter participation, and improve accountability.

"When political parties are involved, people feel their vote truly matters. We see this in national elections, where voter turnout is higher. There’s no reason why local elections should be any different," he explained.

Dr Akwetey also questioned why the country continues to uphold a system that has not delivered meaningful results for over three decades.

"If something hasn’t worked for 32 years, why should we keep it? It’s time for change," he remarked. "It’s time to move forward and embrace a better way of organising our local elections."

Dr Akwetey urged the government to seriously consider introducing partisan elections for MMDAs. He believes this change could revitalise local governance and lead to tangible improvements.

"Let’s test partisan elections and see if they can bring about the change we so desperately need. The people are ready for this transformation, and it’s time to listen," he said.

There was an attempt during the administration of Nana Akufo-Addo to make local assembly elections partisan to elect MMDCEs and Assembly Members but it failed to go through.