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President of policy think tank, IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe believes that President Nana Akufo-Addo’s most significant legacy after his tenure of office would have been the implementation of a policy that will allow Ghanaians to elect their own Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

“The president’s biggest legacy for me I thought was going to be the election of MMDCEs – nothing to do with 1D1F. The biggest legacy of president Akufo-Addo was this promise, and I am worried that it’s been shifted to 2021,” he said on Citi FM’s current affairs and news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday.

Before the 2016 general election, the New Patriotic Party and President Akufo-Addo promised to ensure the election of MMDCEs to promote accountability and good governance.Although timelines were not very specific, President Akufo-Addo had said the current group of MMDCEs would be the last to be elected; thus before 2020.

However, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, at a recent forum hinted that the elections would be held in 2021.

Franklin Cudjoe like the PPP’s Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, is unhappy with this development, and wants the government to fulfill the promise.

The Center for Local Governance Advocacy has also asked the government to publish a road-map for the implementation of the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

The centre believes a road-map will boost government’s credibility on the promise. “We need to push the ministry [of Local Government and Rural Development] to come up with their road-map. I think when Ghanaians see their road-map they will be convinced. Let them publish it for everybody to have and then we will monitor whatever they’ve told us and if they are not able to go by their road-map then we can say they have deceived us,” Deputy Executive Director of the Center, Gladys Tetteh said in a Citi News interview.

Commend us for initiating processes for MMDCEs election – Alima Mahama

Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, has bemoaned the criticisms targeted at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government over suggestions that the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) might be delayed until 2021.

“We are putting it at 2021. For me, if we are able to do the referendum, that is a key delivery, that is a key point and it’s an achievement. That alone sends out a message that the president knows what he’s saying,” she said.