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The election of District Chief Executives (DCEs), as advocated by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party recently in London, has been embraced by the founder and leader of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, who has been at the forefront of that crusade.

Nana Akufo-Addo, while in the UK last week, mentioned in his speech that the election of DCEs would be “non-negotiable” under his administration if he wins the November 7 presidential polls.

Reacting to Mr Akufo-Addo’s comment, the PPP founder said it was in the right direction that the three-time flagbearer of the NPP had added his voice to a call that has been made by many prominent Ghanaians and organisations such as the PPP.

He said in a Facebook post that: “I welcome him [Akufo-Addo] to the ranks of those who have been advocating a return of power to the people through the election of district, municipal, and metropolitan chief executives over the years. Many prominent Ghanaians and organisations have supported this idea, which the PPP has made a crusade of, and one of the party's key policy positions.”

He added: “We want Mr Akufo-Addo to repeat this commitment in Ghana, over and over, and we will be happier if he will add the election of all assembly members to this in order to remove the long-reach of the presidency from local legislative affairs. We also want to know if Mr Akufo-Addo will continue to support the election of MMDCEs, whether he becomes president or not. We do not want ‘Elect DCEs’ to become another campaign slogan only to be shelved after the election.

“Indeed, more rapid development will be the result when MMDCEs are elected directly by the people...”