Should MMDCEs be elected on a partisan or a non-partisan basis? 3

Those who support the election of MMDCEs and other local authorities on a partisan basis argue that the involvement of political parties in local elections will make local elections competitive.

From 1993 to 2024, assembly members – key local government actors- were elected on a non-partisan basis.

These elections were generally less competitive compared to national elections in which parliamentarians and executive Presidents were elected.

However, it must be acknowledged that these assembly members were neither properly resourced nor fairly remunerated to discharge their duties effectively to the satisfaction of the citizens.

The general unsatisfactory service delivery by local authorities has led to widespread apathy among citizens regarding local elections, and consequently, the low competition.

We also need to recognise the fact that the national elections in which our parliamentarians were elected from 1992 to 2024 were competitive, not solely because they were held on a partisan basis.

It is also substantially because of the attractive remuneration, incentives and privileges attached to the position of Member of Parliament.

In the same vein, if leadership positions at the local level are made attractive and MMDAs are adequately resourced to discharge their duties effectively, the election of local authorities, including assembly members and MMDCEs, will also become competitive irrespective of whether the elections are held on a partisan or non-partisan basis.

The decision by the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s administration, to pay a monthly allowance to assembly members must be seen as a healthy development which will enhance competition in local elections and also positively impact local governance.

From my perspective, the involvement of political parties in local elections is not a panacea for low competition in local elections in Ghana. 

Political parties, local elections

Proponents of the election of local authorities on a partisan basis contend that political parties had since the beginning of the fourth republic been somehow involved in local elections and according to them, it is a clear sign that political parties are interested in the election of local authorities on a partisan basis than on a non-partisan basis.

But the question is, are the political parties necessarily acting in the interest of the majority of Ghanaians? 

The 1992 Constitution provides that local authorities be elected on a non-partisan basis.

If it is true that political parties have been involved in local elections, is it not in violation of the 1992 Constitution?

Should their unconstitutional involvement be a justification for advocating the election of MMDCEs on a partisan basis?
 

Survey 

Available information indicates that a Centre for Democratic Development (CDD)- Ghana Survey carried out from May to June 2021 found that 71 per cent of Ghanaians who wanted MMDCEs elected, preferred that the election be done on a non-partisan basis, while 20 per cent opted for a partisan election.

It is evident that the majority of Ghanaians desire that MMDCEs and other local authorities be elected on a non-partisan basis. Let the will of the people prevail in the spirit of true democracy.

Competent

Citizens must be adequately educated to be able to elect competent men and women of integrity as their leaders at both the national and local levels without political and monetary influence and/or consideration.

Furthermore, citizens must also be empowered to demand accountability from their leaders, including local authorities.  

As a people, we need to be honest and patriotic to acknowledge the fact that multi-party democracy, as practised in Ghana in the past thirty-two years, has not yielded the desired benefits to the vast majority of Ghanaians.

It has only benefited a few people to the detriment of the vast majority. 

We must, therefore, work diligently to correct the many ills in our multi-party system of governance at the national level before we even think of introducing the same system at the local level.

In my humble opinion, it is more prudent to elect our MMDCEs and other local authorities on a non-partisan basis than to elect them on a partisan basis.

The writer is a Civil engineer & Local Governance Analyst.
E-mail: emmanuelk55@yahoo.com