The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has asked Ghanaians to exercise political responsibility as citizens by participating massively in the December 17 referendum.
A communiqué released after their Annual Plenary Assembly held in Elmina in the Central Region, and signed by the President of the Conference, Most Rev Philip Naameh said Ghanaians must place the country first and partake in the upcoming referendum.
“We shall be voting in a historic national referendum. In this referendum, all citizens will answer a simple question on whether or not we favour the amendment of our national constitution to allow political parties to campaign and present candidates for Metropolitan, Municipal and District elections and other Local Government Units.”
“We have an important civic and Christian responsibility to make our voices heard on this matter. Let us put Ghana first and vote massively in the referendum on Tuesday, December 17, 2019,” the Bishops’ urged.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference had earlier lamented the seeming lack of information on the upcoming referendum.
According to Most Reverend Naameh, adequate public education on the exercise will fully prepare the ground for a successful referendum.
About referendum
There are two bills currently in Parliament seeking amendments to Articles 243(1) and 55(3) for the election of MMDCEs and the introduction of political party participation in the local elections.
At the moment, the law, in Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, says District Chief Executives for every district are to 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.
Article 55 (3) states that “subject to the provisions of this article, a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character and sponsor candidates for elections to any public office other than to District Assemblies or lower local government units.’’
The referendum has become necessary because Article 55 is an entrenched provision of the Constitution and therefore can only be amended through a referendum.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has scheduled December 17, 2019, as the day of the referendum.
Campaigns for No Vote in referendum
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are advocating for Ghanaians to vote against the proposal to amend the constitution to allow political parties to participate in the District level elections.
According to the party, there will be party-motivated projects and programmes when District Assembly elections are made partisan.
The NDC Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said a YES vote will open district assemblies and unit committees to “the needless NDC-NPP polarization”.
This position by the party has received justification from its flagbearer John Mahama who says electing Local Government representatives along partisan lines while giving the President power to appoint 10 percent of the members of the assembly is not tenable.
Also campaigning for a similar position as the NDC is the National House of Chiefs who has asked Ghanaians to completely reject the December 17 referendum.
Their President, Togbe Afede XIV argued that effective decentralization would negatively be affected by the control of local parties given that the constitution was purposely designed to protect local level governance.
However, opposing this stand is another section of the group.
The Chairman of the Governance Committee of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II of Sefwi Anhwiaso in the Western Region said the Statement does not represent the collective view of the House of Chiefs.
“I am not aware of any consultation or meeting. This matter should have been referred to the governance committee of which I am the Chairman but it hasn’t been referred to me. If it came to the governing council, it would have been discussed at the planning committee. But this hasn’t happened so I don’t know who and who came out with this statement on behalf of all the paramount chiefs in the country. Especially when two major political parties have taken a different stance. If we are not careful, we will involve ourselves directly in party politics. So far as I am concerned, this is a statement coming from two individuals, not the house”, he said to Citi News.
Meanwhile, the Technical Advisor to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Eric Oduro Osae has said the National House of Chiefs’ opposition to the referendum will not influence the voting pattern in the referendum.