District Level Elections are here: But too quiet for liking

FOR the past few weeks, one has observed a relatively unusual alacrity towards cleaning activities in some communities in the city.

I have been out and about in town and have seen concerted efforts in desilting gutters, with heaps of sand and other dirt dug out from these same drains and gutters. Days later, one has witnessed trucks loading the heaps of sand from the roadsides.

In other times, those heaps would have been left until the next rains swept them back to where they were taken from.

One has also observed some colourfully clad street cleaners out there sweeping the streets clean. What is the game changer? I wondered.

District election

Initially, my thinking was that for a change, communities were preparing for the festive season with the beautification of common areas on their minds.

Then the other day, I heard the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Dan Botwe, on the floor of Parliament calling on his colleague Members of Parliament (MPs) to whip up enthusiasm in their constituencies regarding the forthcoming District Level Elections (DLEs) to be held on December 19.

Something then clicked. My mind went to the numerous posters already littered all over the place as I began to connect what those posters were for.

Days later, the Electoral Commisioner's (EC's) representative and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) were on media platforms talking about DLEs and the role of the electorate. 

Things began to add up as some aspirants were also in the media talking about their plans for their assemblies. So why the quietness in preparing the minds of the electorate until a few days to the D-day?

All things being equal, this is one election that should have been top of mind. That the hype, the jingles and all the education that are expected to go for this all-important election and the conscientisation in the media were left low-key till a few days to voting, beats understanding.

Yet the DLEs, as one understands, will give elected leaders the opportunity to be close to and be in direct interaction with the people.

Together, they will work for effective development at the local level. Very crucial election, yet, it is looking to be a most forgotten process.

Perhaps the quiet nature of what has gone on so far in terms of education and conscientisation is not too surprising. Some citizens interviewed by the media said they were not in a hurry to know, for "after all, what do the assemblies do for the people?"

Worrying about it is legitimate.

Until this year when the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) stepped in to collect property rates, for example, the Assemblies have collected those annual rates. However, there is little in most communities to show how monies collected benefitted developments.

The same goes with market tolls collected, which leave little to show, looking at the pile of garbage in some prominent markets in Accra, for example.

Animals, such as, goats, sheep and cows roam about in residential areas as if that should be the norm. Streets are blocked at will for funerals and private parties to the inconvenience of residents.

As for noise pollution, churches and to music makers, compete unfortunately into dawn. Yet, there are clear Assembly by-laws on noise pollution.

I have lived in my present community since 1997. Twenty-Six years on, my neighbours and I have yet to pinpoint anything the District Assembly has done to merit appreciation. The roads leading to our homes are still rough and dusty.

We have individually constructed our own drains and covered them as well. Homeowners have provided their own street lights and arranged garbage collection services.

Parks and gardens for community relaxation are a far cry. Our beaches are dirty and unsafe, and our markets and lorry parks are covered with filth.

Elsewhere, local authorities are doing well and endeavouring to make their communities the best place to live. No wonder they hold their local-level elections with pride and so much attention.

On Tuesday, December 19, the focus across the country will be on the all-important DLEs to select representatives to lead the assemblies for the next four years.

Unfortunately, some of us have not seen any campaigning in our areas. We do not know our candidates. How does one go and cast a vote and who for?

It is a shame we have allowed partisan political elections to take the limelight and, directly or indirectly, played down the election of critical and important development agents at the local level.

From what one is seeing, perhaps in the future, deliberate steps should be adopted to place equal balance when it comes to publicising and educating the populace on the different roles and benefits of both district and national elections. Our communities are crying for development.

How are we positioned to move on after these seemingly quiet DLEs, which have the potential to bring much-needed development to the people much faster?

That will mean continuous education and stressing the importance of going to the polls to select leaders who will lead them.

Some have predicted up to 60 per cent turnout. We wait to see.

Writer's  E-mail: vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com