A former Local Government Minister, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, believes government’s decision to relieve all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) of their appointments on Thursday was impulsive.
He described government’s approach to purging the local government of its heads as akin to a “coup mentality.”
Speaking on Eyewitness News, he reiterated the arguments that, keeping the MMDCEs in the short-term ensures there is stability until there’s a substantive Local Government minister. “I believe this decision was very harsh. It was taken in a very rash manner,” Mr. Ofosu Ampofo stressed.
The Local Government minister nominee, Hajia Alima Mahama, indicated that the termination of the appointments of all MMDCEs was to ensure a uniformity of vision at the national and sub-national level.
Hajia Mahama also argued that the termination of appointment was to ensure the Assemblies don’t take key decisions that were not in tandem with the policy outlook of government.
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, however, said the erstwhile John Evans Attah Mills administration in 2009, maintained MMDCEs in the short-term whilst ensuring that they did not compromise the government’s vision. He reminded that “in President Mills’ time, some order was given that you are at post but you are not supposed to take any decision of maybe awarding contracts or payments, so the parameters were defined.”
Danger in electing MMDCEs
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo also warned about the possible downsides of electing MMDCEs as promised by the new government. “Already, we are living in a very polarized environment and one of the threads that have kept us together is our local government and decentralization system which operates on a non-partisan basis, and gives people the opportunity to play their role in the governance process in that non-partisan manner,” he said.
“Any attempt to make local elections partisan must tread very cautiously in order not to polarize this country from top to down,” the former Local Government Minister cautioned. Mr. Ofosu Ampofo advised that such a move would require “a lot of debate and argument and depends on arrangements that would be put in place.”
He thus advocated for the sustenance of the current system that sees MMDCEs appointed by the president.
“The system as we have now has kept this country together. It has built national cohesion at the bottom of development and it has ensured that there is balanced and even distribution of resources at the local level.”
Source: citifmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE OFOSU AMPOFO. TO ATTACK THE DECISION TO SAC MMDCEs AND DEGRADE IT AS COUP MENTALITY IS AN INSULT TO JJ THE MASTER OF COUP MAKING.
CAN U IN ALL CERTAINTY AND FAITHFULNESS SAY OUR ASSEMBLIES ARE NON-PARTISAN? MY RESEARCH AT THE ASSEMBLIES SHOWED IT IS MORE POLARISED THAN PARLIAMENT. PEOPLE ARE COWED INTO SUBMISSION AND SOME ENJOY SEVERAL TRANSFERS ESPECIALLY IF NOT SEEN AS BELONGING TO THEM. INDEED, POLITICS CAN MAKE EVEN ANGELS LOSE THEIR SENSE OF CONVICTION
I just don't see how this proposed system of electing MMDCEs could be more partisan than the current system whereby the presidency imposes mostly partisan ***barred word*** and empty political talk heads on us as MMDCEs? NDC is probably scared this new policy will make it harder for it to use MMDCEs to rig any future general elections. Peter Dogbe
What sense it is to keep someone who has no right to make decisions or do anything valuable for that matter and then he/she will receive salary at the end of the month.However, with this we can save their salary even if a month or two before a new one is appointed.
You never make sensible contributions,very soon you will drop that shoeshine job in Lagos and return home to be employed here in Ghana,so wise up.
See who is talking,pls is too late where were u when JM & sharp teeth boys were failing.Now in opposition u are talking maturely keep it up.
massa forget and doge me
"A GOOD ONE THERE" remember the late singer 1 man 1000. This is what I call "a persuasive and convincing academic transcript". I hope he stays in opposition for a long time to help the president. He was not speaking like this when he was in government.
MASSA,,, DON'T SPEAK AS IF WE DON'T KNOW THE KIND OF EEDIO2 SOME GHANAIANS HAVE ELECTED AS A PRESIDENT.... IT ALSO SERVES YOU RIGHT,,, SINCE YOU PEOPLE DECIDED TO PLAY THE MR NICE GUYS... THOUGH THEY DESERVED TO BE TREATED WITH ALL THE SCORN ATTACHED TO THEIR POSTURES WHILE IN GOVERNMENT.. EVEN AKUFO ADDO HIMSELF,,,, WHEN HE TOOK A NONCHALANT APPROACH TO SET THE FOREIGN OFFICE ABLAZE,, WHAT HAPPENED...??? PROF MILLS RATHER RECIPROCATED HIM WITH A HOOPING 100M USD... SEE,,,, SO YOUR GOVERNMENT WHICH BECAME DOCILE DURING THE 8 YEAR PERIOD IS WHAT BEGAT THIS REIGN OF TERROR... THIS THIS PHUULISH SO CALLED PRESIDENT WILL CONTINUE TO HUNT YOU TO THE VERY LAST ONE.... SO SHUTUP AND ENDURE IT FOR A TIME.... WHAT YOU REAP IS WHAT YOU SOW...