DECENTRALISATION IN ACTION (APRIL 21, 2009)

THE 4th Republican Constitution establishes the district assemblies as the highest political authorities in the district and empowers them with deliberative, legislative and executive functions.
Act 240 (1) states that “Ghana shall have a system of local governance and administration, which shall as far as practicable, be decentralised”.
It also says in 240 (2e) that “to ensure accountability of local government authorities, people in particular local government areas shall, as far as practicable, be afforded the opportunity to participate effectively in their governance”.
Perhaps, the people who reacted in various ways to the announcement of nominees for the position of chief executives of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies must have exercised their constitutional rights to participate in local governance.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh, has indicated the preparedness of the government to examine the concerns raised by some of the traditional leaders, party activists and residents of the districts and if possible review some of the decisions.
The President had earlier, in an interaction with the National House of Chiefs, pledged to engage traditional authorities in the nomination process. In line with that the NDC administration decided to engage in broad consultations throughout the country to select the Municipal/Metropolitan/District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
The pockets of agitation indicate the growing interest of the people in the persons who govern their districts and by extension, the decentralisation process.
The process of appointment of MMDCEs does not end with the nomination by the President, because Article 243 (1) of the Constitution states that “there shall be a district chief executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the President for listening to the concerns of the people in some of the districts and deciding to review his own decision.
He has subsequently withdrawn six of the nominations announced earlier.
We appeal to those who have decided to protest against the nominations of MMDCEs to avoid taking the law into their own hands by avoiding confrontation and rather adopt the path of dialogue to seek redress for their grievances.
The President has shown clearly that if there are merits in the concerns of the people, they will be addressed accordingly. To those still pressing for more of the nominations to be withdrawn, we counsel that their militant posture will not yield positive dividends.
The development needs of the people will not wait while a section of the public struggles over who becomes the President’s representative in a district.
The development challenges are legion in the districts and countryside and the Mills administration requires the support of all the people to help it “hit the ground running”.
Let’s rally round our political appointees to break the back of poverty by creating jobs and wealth.