The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) wants President Akufo-Addo to cede his power to appoint thirty percent of district assembly members to chiefs and traditional authorities.
The President on December 1 cancelled the processes leading to the election of MMDCEs over what he said was a lack of national consensus.
The NDC in a letter to the President said it has set up a team to engage the President in the spirit of building a national consensus.
The party said the chiefs and traditional authorities have since the inception of the 4th Republic been pushing for the power to appoint 30 percent of District Assembly members. The NDC indicated the chiefs’ demand must be considered.
The party also called for the critical look of some articles in the constitution, should the President decide to start the processes of electing MMDCEs.
The Electoral Commission was hoping to organise three separate elections on December 17 including the referendum which sought to seek the approval of Ghanaians to amend Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution to allow political parties to sponsor candidates for local level elections.
However President Nana Akufo-Addo canceled the referendum and also directed for the withdrawal of the Article 55 (3) Amendment Bill from Parliament as well as Article 243 (1) which was to allow Ghanaians to vote for their Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
The President explained that he took the action because there was a lack of “national consensus” on the matter.
A lot of Ghanaians subsequently rebuked the President for the action.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
