With the controversial referendum out of the way, the Electoral Commission (EC) says it is focused on running a successful district-level election slated for December 17, 2019.
The EC 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.
But President Nana Akufo-Addo cancelled 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).
Speaking to citinewsroom.com, Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, said the Commission has discontinued preparations for the referendum.
Private legal practitioner and former Member of Parliament for the Zebilla Constituency Mr. John Ndebugri had earlier indicated that even the decision to call off the referendum was no longer within the power of the Executive or Legislature.
The District Assembly and Unit Committee elections comes off on December 17, 2019. On the said day, the Electoral Commission will conduct two elections consisting of Assembly Members and Unit Committee Members.
The elections of the Assembly Members and the Unit Committee Members form the critical core of the country’s decentralisation process.
They help in exercising political and administrative authority in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, provide guidance, give direction to, and supervise the other administrative authorities in local assemblies.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
