It has emerged that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) spent GH¢1million on the aborted referendum.
Chairperson of the Commission, Josephine Nkrumah told JoyNews’ PM Express programme on Tuesday, the monies were used for awareness creation and education about the exercise.
She said the money was acquired, courtesy of the Local Government Ministry.
Mrs. Nkrumah told the host, Evans Mensah that the awareness creation also involved the District Level Elections which is scheduled for same day the referendum was.
Expressing her dilemma, the Chairperson, said they are considering withdrawing the advertisements for both exercises and editing the referendum aspects out.
She, however, said the Commission does not have the wherewithal to run new ads for the District Level Elections alone which come off on December 17 as scheduled.
President Nana Akufo-Addo in a live television broadcast Sunday evening, announced he had directed the Local Government Minister to withdraw the amendment bill for the referendum from Parliament.
The referendum was aimed at amending Article 55/3 of the Constitution which bars political parties from local government/Assembly elections.
It was necessitated by another amendment in Parliament which sought to take away the President’s power to appoint MMDCEs and make the position an elected one.
However, if the amendment had gone through without amending Article 55/3, the MMDCEs would be elected on a non-partisan basis.
The government, backing a partisan election at the local assemblies, initiated the referendum and extensively campaigned for YES.
However, the opposition NDC, in what has been described by President Akufo-Addo and his appointees as a U-turn, declared opposition to introducing partisanship to the Assemblies.
They called on electorate to vote NO in the referendum, sending debates about the pros and cons of the amendment.
After several calls to cancel the referendum and build consensus, the President budged.
However, he withdrew the bill concerning the election of MMDCEs as well, sending anger over social media.
Critics said the fact that there was disagreement over the inclusion of political parties did not mean there was disagreement over the election of MMDCEs.
Latest Stories
-
Damongo: About 400 NPP Members resign over Minister’s alleged meddling in chieftaincy affairs
9 mins -
Next NDC government will pay special attention to women – Naana Opoku-Agyemang
17 mins -
Amerado is singing and it’s good he’s doing that – Lyrical Joe
26 mins -
NDC government will establish a Women’s Development Bank – Prof Opoku-Agyemang
33 mins -
My selection is an affirmation of your belief in women – Naana Opoku tells Mahama
40 mins -
Our ticket will be a pair of experienced individuals – Mahama assures
49 mins -
NDC officially outdoors Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate
1 hour -
+233 hosts Int. Jazz Day concert on April 30
1 hour -
Farmer arraigned over threat of death
1 hour -
Education Minister unveils new uniforms for basic schools
2 hours -
8th Ghana CEO Summit scheduled for May 27
2 hours -
Leaked intimate video has severely embarrassed me; I’m sorry – Serwaa Amihere
2 hours -
Poll results alone don’t constitute victory for any political party- Asiedu Nketia cautions NDC
4 hours -
Gyakie spills truth on her journey to fame
4 hours -
Energy sector CSOs challenge Akufo-Addo to transparent value for money audit of SML contract
4 hours