Government has taken a step further in the process to get Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCES) elected across the country by presenting an amendment Bill to Parliament.
The Bill, which seeks to amend an article of the constitution if passed, will make it constitutional to have MMDCES elected on partisan basis.
The election of MMDCEs was a major campaign promise of the NPP in the run-up to the 2016 election.
Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Kpemka, who presented the Bill on behalf of the government spoke to Citi News.
“The Constitutional Amendment is for the honourable House to amend Article 243 (1) to allow for election of MMDCEs on the basis of universal adult suffrage. What pertains now is the nomination of a persons by his excellency the President.”
Election of MMDCEs
It would be recalled that on February 20, 2019, the government laid another Bill in Parliament to allow for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the country.
That bill was to amend Article 243 (1) of the Constitution to provide for a district chief executive to be elected by universal adult suffrage within a district.
Its approval into law will end the current constitutional arrangement which empowers the President to appoint MMDCEs.
Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that: “There shall be a District Chief Executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at the meeting.”
Referral
The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Oquaye, referred the Bill to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report.
After its deliberations, the committee will recommend to the House to either pass the Bill into law or reject it.
