President Nana Akufo-Addo’s termination of the appointments of all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) was to ensure a uniformity of vision at the national and sub-national level.
This is according to the Local Government Minister nominee, Hajia Alima Mahama, who explained that the change in government at the national level had to reflect at the assembly level.
“Once there is a change in government, we have to ensure that it goes through national to sub-national level and that is what we have effected,” she said on Eyewitness News.
“The Regional Ministers have gone, the ministers at the national level have gone so the District Chief Executives also have to go, in line with the change. We cannot effect change at the national level and not effect change at the sub-national.”
Hajia Alima explained that the government could not afford to have persons without the requisite locus “taking specific decision that are not in tandem with the policy outlook or framework of this government. That is why they have to hand over.”
She further downplayed assertions that the removal of the MMDCEs would affect the running of local government nationwide.
According to her, “if it is the day-to-day administration and the implementation of the activities that the district assembly has decided on, the staff are there, the offices are running as normal.”
All MMDCEs are to hand over their relevant duties to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Coordinating Directors (MMDCDs).
Unfortunate turn of events
Also speaking on Eyewitness News, a commentator on Local Government issues, George Kyei Baffour, however expressed disappointment in this development.
“Looking at it in the context of good governance and the enhancement of decentralization in this country, I think it is an unfortunate event because it kind of truncates the entire process of administrative and executive authority at the level of the assemblies.”
This turn of events has been the norm following regime changes, with new governments normally appointing new MMDCEs that align with its leanings.
Mr. Baffour indicated the only way to overcome this trend would be to have the MMDCEs elected, something the current government has planned to initiate in 2018.
“The ultimate will have to be done; getting the MMDCEs elected with their mandate coming directly from the people,” he said.
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