Referendum: 10 reasons why NDC says Ghanaians must vote ‘NO’
The National Communications Bureau of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has offered 10 reasons why Ghanaians must vote ‘No’ come December 17.
The December 17 referendum seeks to amend the 1992 constitution to allow political parties to sponsor candidates to local level elections but the NDC says Ghanaians must vote NO and reject the proposal.
Meanwhile, a ‘Yes’ vote is for partisanship in the country’s local government system and a ‘No’ vote allows political parties to sponsor candidates in unit committee, assembly member and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDCE) elections.
The list of 10 reasons pointing out the benefits of a ‘No’ vote as well as the ills and ramifications if the constitution is amended to accommodate the proposal, cites among other things, the ‘needless political divisiveness and rancor’ and the avoidance of “an expensive and exclusionary political primaries system”.
The NDC insists Ghanaians vote no to protect Ghana’s local government system from destruction.
Below are the ten reasons provided by the party’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi.
1. Vote NO to avoid the needless political divisiveness and rancor at the local level, and rather promote unity and cohesion at the local government level.
2. Vote NO to deepen stakeholder consultations and consensus-building for development at the local government level. This is what propels the development of local communities, not political grandstanding.
3. Vote NO for a less expensive and a less monetized election system at the local government level. Local politics must not be the preserve of the highest bidder and those with moneybags.
4. Vote NO to encourage competent Ghanaians who don’t want to be tagged with partisanship to participate in governance at the local level.
5. Vote NO to avoid the party whip system and protect the independence of Assembly and unit committee members in decision-making at the local government level.
6. Vote NO to ensure the continuity of developmental projects at the local government level in the supreme interest of the community. The phenomenon of abandoned projects will only get worse if a YES vote is entertained.
7. Vote NO to deepen accountability of Assembly and unit committee members as well as elected MMDCEs to the people at the local government level.
8. Vote NO to avoid an expensive and exclusionary political primaries system which will produce mainly the affluent, the educated etc. as assembly members and unit committee members.
9. Vote NO to avoid inimical partisan acrimony which sometimes prolongs even after elections, and ensure civility and decorum in local government elections.
10. Vote NO for community-interest decisions and not parochial partisan decisions at the local government level. Long before parties were formed, communities existed and governed themselves.