The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has expressed its disapproval of the proposal for the President to nominate five persons to contest District Chief Executive (DCE) elections. This move, as contained in the government's position paper on the Constitutional Review Committee's report, has been slammed by IDEG as an attempt to exclude political parties and individuals not aligned with the government from participating in the local governance system.
The Institute's Senior Research Fellow, Mr. Kwesi Jonah, argued that DCEs should be elected directly by the people without presidential intervention. This position has been advocated for by IDEG for more than 10 years. Mr. Jonah explained that the proposal appears to be intended to prevent other political parties from contesting the DCE elections, citing the possibility that candidates not affiliated with the governing party might not be able to work with the President.
IDEG Rejects Presidential Nomination of DCEs
IDEG has stated that it does not support the proposal for the President to nominate five persons from whom three would contest DCE elections. According to Mr. Jonah, this move would not promote free democratic choice. He emphasized that in a democracy, the Chief Executive must be directly accountable to the people over whom he's governing.
Mr. Jonah questioned the rationale behind the proposal, stating that it seemed intended to prevent other political parties from participating in the local governance system. He noted that this move would undermine the democratic principle of free choice, allowing the President to choose candidates and effectively guide voters on whom they could choose.
Direct Election vs. Presidential Nomination
IDEG has long advocated for the direct election of DCEs, which it believes would promote accountability to the people at the local level. However, the proposal for the President to nominate candidates would not ensure accountability to the people, according to Mr. Jonah. He argued that persons nominated by the President to contest DCE elections might feel accountable primarily to the appointing authority rather than the people at the local level.
Mr. Jonah emphasized that allowing the President to nominate candidates and effectively guide voters on whom they could choose does not uphold the democratic principle of free choice. He stated that when people decide they want to have control over the persons who become their District Chief Executives, they should be allowed to vote freely, without the President choosing the candidates for them.
IDEG's Position on the Proposal
IDEG's position on the proposal is clear: it does not support the idea of the President nominating five persons to contest DCE elections. The Institute believes that this move would undermine the democratic principle of free choice and exclude political parties and individuals not aligned with the government from participating in the local governance system.
Mr. Jonah's comments on the proposal have sparked debate on the role of the President in the election of DCEs. The Institute's stance on the issue has been met with mixed reactions from stakeholders, with some arguing that the proposal is necessary to ensure stability in the local governance system.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the proposal for the President to nominate five persons to contest DCE elections has been met with strong opposition from IDEG. The Institute's stance on the issue has sparked a renewed focus on the importance of democratic principles in the local governance system. As the discussion around this proposal continues, it remains to be seen how it will shape the future of local governance in Ghana.
Source: Joy Online
