President John Dramani Mahama has hinted that Ghana may soon transition from appointing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to electing them, as part of a broader constitutional reform agenda aimed at deepening local democracy and accountability.

Addressing MMDCEs at an orientation and training workshop in Accra on Wednesday, 18th June, President Mahama suggested that the current appointees could be the last under the existing system.

“You may be the last batch of MMDCEs to be appointed,” he stated

“The National Review Committee is travelling around the country and will present its recommendations in August this year. One of the major items that has come up is the election of MMDCEs.
There is no doubt that Ghanaians want the MMDCEs elected. Those who succeed you might have to go through elections.”

The President said public sentiment strongly supports the idea of elected MMDCEs, a key issue that has featured prominently during the Constitution Review Committee’s national consultations.

President Mahama urged the current MMDCEs to embrace collaboration with local stakeholders to enhance governance and community development.

“I therefore urge you to work with the chiefs, the religious bodies, and civil society in your districts to restore the social contract with our people,” he said. “The legitimacy and authority of the state must not only be rooted in law, but must also be felt through the lived experience of our citizens.”

His remarks come as part of a renewed push to strengthen democratic governance at the local level and make public officeholders more accountable to their constituents.