Local Governance Analyst Issaka Amon Kotei has proposed a major restructuring of Ghana’s decentralisation system, including a model where elected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) could form a second chamber to complement Parliament.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, September 12, 2026, Issaka Amon Kotei said Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review must go beyond discussions about the length of the presidential term and address deeper challenges relating to decentralisation, political financing and local governance.
According to him, the increasing monetisation of Ghanaian elections is one of the major issues that must be confronted if the country wants to build a more accountable political system.
He argued that political aspirants sometimes spend huge amounts of money to secure political positions, creating the potential for some officeholders to view public office as an avenue to recover what they invested during their campaigns.
Issaka Amon Kotei said this situation can have serious implications for governance, particularly at the local government level.
He stressed that an MMDCE works with several technical officers and departments under the Local Government Service and therefore should not be treated simply as another partisan political figure.
According to him, the political leadership and technical responsibilities within the local government system must be clearly distinguished to ensure that elected local leaders can effectively coordinate development.
Call for Reform of Political Financing
The Local Governance Analyst also called for an independent and transparent system of political financing.
He said the country’s political system must find ways of reducing the amount of money candidates are required to spend to participate successfully in elections.
Issaka Amon Kotei argued that when individuals spend excessive amounts of money to secure political positions, it creates an unhealthy environment where the cost of politics can eventually affect the manner in which public office is exercised.
He therefore believes political financing must form an important part of Ghana’s constitutional reform discussions.
He cautioned against simply creating additional political contests without addressing the financial burden associated with existing elections.
MMDCEs as a Possible Second Chamber
Issaka Amon Kotei further put forward what he described as an alternative governance arrangement involving elected MMDCEs.
He proposed that Ghana could consider bringing the country’s 261 MMDCEs together, with appropriate representation from traditional authorities, to constitute a second chamber with clearly defined responsibilities.
Under his proposal, Parliament would continue to focus primarily on its legislative functions, while the second chamber could play a significant role in the implementation and coordination of national development projects and programmes at the district level.
He believes the arrangement could give local government leaders greater responsibility and accountability for development within their respective jurisdictions.
According to him, national projects and programmes could be channelled through such a structure for implementation at the local level, while the relevant legislative responsibilities remain with Members of Parliament.
He said such an arrangement could create a clearer division of responsibilities and strengthen Ghana’s decentralisation system.
Strengthening Local Participation
The analyst said if Ghana genuinely wants to deepen decentralisation, the country must be prepared to give local communities greater influence over who leads their districts.
He therefore welcomed discussions around allowing citizens at the district level to have a stronger say in the selection or election of MMDCEs.
He maintained that local leaders who derive their mandate directly from the people would have a stronger basis to demand accountability and respond to the development needs of their communities.
Central Government and Local Government
Issaka Amon Kotei acknowledged that Ghana’s multi-party democratic system remains important, but argued that the relationship between central government and local government requires further examination.
He said constitutional reform should clarify the responsibilities and powers of the various levels of government and ensure that decentralisation is not merely a policy on paper.
He noted that elected political leaders at the local level must be able to work effectively with technical professionals within the Local Government Service.
He stressed that the language and expectations surrounding political officeholders should therefore reflect the different roles played by elected leaders and technical officers in the decentralisation system.
Five-Year Presidential Term
On proposals for a five-year presidential term, Issaka Amon Kotei said he was not convinced that extending the presidential tenure would, by itself, solve Ghana’s governance challenges.
Although he acknowledged that longer tenure could provide additional time for governments to execute major infrastructure projects, he argued that infrastructure development alone should not be the basis for extending presidential terms.
He said the country must instead focus on reforms that improve accountability, decentralisation, political financing and citizen participation.
He therefore urged stakeholders to approach the constitutional review exercise as an opportunity to address the structural weaknesses within Ghana’s governance system rather than concentrating only on the duration of presidential tenure.
Issaka Amon Kotei stressed that Ghana must start from somewhere if it wants to achieve meaningful decentralisation and strengthen local democracy.
He called for a broader national conversation on the various
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah,Ahotoronline,Accra.