The battle for the nomination of Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) has been marked by significant political unrest over the years. Successive governments have attempted to find lasting solutions to this issue, which continues to affect the operations of district assemblies across the country.
The practice of predetermining candidates for MMDCE positions by the central government has not sat well with grassroots members of political parties. Often, these imposed choices conflict with the preferences of the party’s grassroots, creating tension and division at the local level.
Local Government Expert and Political Analyst, Issaka Amon Kotei, shared his views on the matter during an interview on Adekyee Mu Nsem on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra.
Mr. Kotei emphasized the need for a new policy direction through constitutional review—one that would restructure the current system to integrate the role and interests of grassroots actors in the selection of MMDCEs. He argued that meaningful grassroots participation is critical to strengthening local governance.
At the local level, District Chief Executives (DCEs) act as representatives of the President in executing the central government’s development agenda. As such, it is important to ensure that nominees reflect the will of both the party in government and local stakeholders.
Mr. Kotei called for open and healthy dialogue between predetermined candidates, Members of Parliament, and grassroots party members to reduce political tensions and prevent the rejection of nominees by assembly members.
He noted that previous governments have faced political setbacks due to attempts to impose presidential nominees on assembly members. This, he said, has benefited opposition parties like the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which has won many district-level elections while in opposition.
The analyst also highlighted the detrimental impact of reductions in the District Assemblies Common Fund under past administrations, which placed local governments in difficult financial situations. He urged the current government to conduct a thorough introspection of local-level challenges and provide adequate support to assemblies to harness their potential for national development.
Finally, Mr. Kotei strongly condemned the practice of monetary inducements during the confirmation of nominated MMDCEs, calling it a threat to the integrity of the local governance system.
Story by: Alexander Kukah
