Push competent individuals to run for assembly elections — NCCE

Traditional authorities have been urged to encourage and throw their weight behind competent and capable individuals in their communities to avail themselves of the position of assembly members.

That is necessary because assembly members, as development agents in the communities, must work in tandem with them, especially in undertaking development projects in their communities.

The District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Abura Asebu Kwamankesse District of the Central Region, Mrs Ellen Nyarko Appiah-Osei, who made the call, said as part of their mandate, assembly members must meet chiefs and discuss challenges in their areas and draft proposals to be executed by their assemblies.

Mrs Osei said that when she addressed the chiefs and elders of Asebu Traditional Council during their council meeting on Tuesday as part of a series of sensitisation programmes of the NCCE aimed at educating the public on local government participation.

Vote for residents

She advised the electorate to vote for individuals who resided in the community as assembly members as they would be in a better position to understand their plight.

She discouraged the situation where money was taken from aspiring assembly members before voting for them saying “these people will at the end of the day find ways of recouping their money during their service to the nation”.

Responding to a suggestion by Nana Kwaw Abada II, Gyaasehene of Brafoyaw Traditional Area that assembly members be given end-of-service package, Mrs Osei indicated that it was being considered since the end-of-service packages given to them were usually not enough.

Constitutional amendment

She announced that from January 2020, the 1992 Constitution would be amended to include the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) pending the outcome of a referendum.

That, she explained, would offer citizens the opportunity to vote for their preferred individuals as chief executives of the district.
Mrs Osei added that MMDCEs played vital roles in nation building, adding that they supported development initiatives and served as checks on abandoned national projects.

She urged the chiefs to join hands in fighting corruption as that stalled national development. — GNA