Let’s Entrench Ghana’s Democracy – ONMA MCE

The Municipal Chief Executive of the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly (ONMA) Boye Laryea says the impending referendum is another giant opportunity to further expand the frontiers of Ghana’s democracy.

He stated that it is about time the country grew its democracy considering the rather thorny issue of referendum.

On December 17 this year Ghanaians would be going to the polls to amend the law to enable Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and unit committee members to be elected along political party lines.

Even before that is done, divergent views have been expressed further diving the country along political lines.

So far members of the National House of Chiefs are sharply divided over the matter.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) are poles part with the NDC’s Ras Mubarack, MP for Kumbungu backing the ‘YES’ campaign in the December 17, Referendum only to backtrack after the party threatened to crack its whip on him.

But addressing a town hall meeting in Accra yesterday, Mr. Laryea is sure the referendum is meant for good than harm.

He stated among others that the move would make the MMDCE’s more efficient, accountable and practical agents of development in their Municipalities.

The OMNA MCE while making a case for a YES vote said the referendum is set to change the status quo that currently criminalizes political party involvement in district level elections.

He explained that the president per the powers conferred on him by the constitution does all the appointments, a situation the President Akufo-Addo seeks to change.

“We are so swollen headed, we are so comfortable where we are, we do things that just satisfy us or the people of our areas…” adding that the referendum would cede some of the executive powers of appointment to the people to decide who they want to represent them.

He wondered why the president if not for good reasons would in his words offload some of his powers of appointment to the people.

Mr. Laryea laughed off suggestions that allowing political parties in the district level elections would further polarize the country.

He said even when political parties have been banned in involving in local elections, the poster colours of the candidates vying for those positions betrays their political leanings.

Mr. Laryea argued that it was about time “we stopped playing the ostrich…”

Chairman of the meeting Rev. McDaniels Quartey, the Resident Pastor of the Gethsemane Presbyterian Church urged all Ghanaians to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

Ms. Joan Arris-Tagoe the Municipal Information Officer of the Municipality sensitized the gathering on the referendum.