IDEG calls for immediate reform of current local governance system

A Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance, IDEG, Kwesi Jonah has called for immediate reform of the current local government system saying it is inadequate to ensure the sustainability of the country’s multi-party democratic process. 

He said the country’s local governance system is being weakened mainly due to the appointment of Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives and the 30 percent of the members of the assembly by the President without the involvement of political parties. 

Mr. Jonah made the call at a Regional Dialogue on democratic devolution in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital. . 

Mr. Jonah said to ensure effective accountability in the system, MMDCEs should be elected directly by the people on the basis of political parties and also called for the participation of political parties in district level elections to help address anomalies in the local government elections. 

Mr. Jonah also called for proportional representation system that will ensure that women and other vulnerable groups are fairly represented in decision making process. 

On behalf of IDEG, he called for a deeper democratic devolution to check some setbacks in the country’s governance system.


Vice Chairman, Civic Forum Initiative, CFI, Seth Abloso, said IDEG and CFI consider it appropriate to undertake this outreach and advocacy program in the run up to election 2016 because election are policy and decision making periods when politicians are willing to listen to voters and revise their notes . 

He added that the timing provides the best context for public policy debate and where crucial reforms can best be promoted within the election season. 

Mr. Abloso said the constitutional amendment process may be forgotten after the 2016 elections and the will of the citizen’s risk being set aside though some political parties have promised to carry it through. 

He therefore called on Ghanaians to be reminded of the unfinished national exercise in order to steer public discourse towards the completion of the amendment and the fullfilment of the will of the citizenry.
 
He said there is the need for political parties to also commit themselves to continue with the amendment process after the 2016 elections.

Dean, Faculty of Education, University for Development Studies, Prof. Agnes Atiah Apusigah, said as the country gears up the elections, there is the need to have a deeper understanding that democracy depends on the people’s voice and choice and therefore what happens in the local levels must critically be looked at. 

She called on stakeholders, political parties and the citizenry to work towards peaceful elections 2016.

The Institute for Democratic Governance, IDEG in collaboration with the Civic Forum Initiative organized the regional dialogue as part of a nationwide outreach on Democratic Devolution. 

The Regional Dialogue which brought together stakeholders including representatives of political parties, NGOs, electoral commission, religious organization and traditional authorities was on the theme “Strengthening Democratic Development through Multi-Party Based Local Government”. 

It was aimed at soliciting views of stakeholders and the public towards amending the 1992 constitution.

GBC