Ex-MCE Backs Election of MMDCEs, Says Move Would End “Insecurity of Tenure”

Former Municipal Chief Executive for Oforikrom, Hon. Abraham Kwame Antwi, has thrown his weight behind calls to elect Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, citing findings from a recent CDD survey.

Speaking on Kessben TV’s Digest Show, in discussion of CDD data showing that 76% Ghanaians want MMDCE’s elected, he insisted,

_“There are several reasons for the public to go on this tangent.

He argued that electing MMDCEs would give them stability to deliver. _“It guarantees the safety of the elect to programme their plans for the area, other than current insecurity of one’s tenure,”_ he stated.

Antwi said the present appointment system ties local leaders too closely to central government. _“Currently the vision of the MCE is subject to that of the government in power”,_ he noted.

He added: _“Hitherto, every assembly and MCE have their own agenda in terms of development and primary needs.

Responding to concerns that elected MMDCEs could undermine government, Antwi disagreed. _“Some people are of the view that if one is selected and is not in support of the government of the day they would sabotage the government is neither here nor there because they would be accountable to the assembly and the government as well,”_ he explained.

Instead, he said dual accountability is a safeguard. Whatever expenditure they make would be subject to what the assembly has decided and approved by the government, Antwi said.

If anyone does otherwise the assembly would rise against the person and that I think rather places more responsibility on the elect to remain accountable and responsible to both parties.

The debate on electing MMDCEs has been ongoing, with government yet to table a bill on the matter in Parliament.