Osafo Maafo Pushes For Election Of DCEs

Yaw Osafo Marfo, former Minister of Finance, has urged government to allow the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) by people at the grassroots level. He said the election of MMDCEs would help reduce the �winner takes all� attitude that has characterized Ghana�s political system and deepen grassroots democracy. Mr Osafo Maafo said this on Thursday at the 2013 B.J. da Rocha memorial lectures on the theme: �B.J. da Rocha, the Politician.� He said after adopting constitutional rule in 1992, Ghana has come of age to find an antidote to the �winner takes all� attitude which cripples progress. �One of the best ways to find an antidote to the �winner takes all� attitude is to give power to the people at the grassroots level to elect their MMDCEs where the contesting candidates are from different political parties,� he said. Mr. Osafo Maafo said if political parties are allowed to present their candidates to contest, the victory of any candidate would heavily depend on the popularity of his/her party in the area and that would allow members of other parties other than the ruling party to also contribute in the administration of the country. He disagreed with the assertion that if elected, those who do not belong to the ruling party would sabotage the government. He said they would rather do a good job since they may have to go back to the people to seek their votes. Mr. Osafo Maafo said there is much suspicion in the political landscape and it is creating barrier for integration. �I was recently invited by the Harvard University to share my experience to some 20 finance ministers from Africa but unfortunately, I cannot do same with the Finance Minister in my own country because of the suspicion that has characterised our politics,� he said.