The President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV has debunked claims by some chiefs that the house’s decision to strongly reject multi-party participation at the local governance level was unilateral.
According to him, chiefs who criticized Thursday statement by him and his Vice asking Ghanaians to vote NO in the December 17 referendum are “dishonest” and exhibited “wanton mischief”.
“The proposed referendum to allow partisan politics in our local elections was thoroughly discussed at the National House of Chiefs, both by the Standing Committee and the General Meeting
“The report presented by the Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Nana Krobea Asante, which formed the basis of the recent press statement was adopted ‘as the position of the House’, and it included the recommendation that ‘The House should strongly object to the notion that membership of local assemblies should exclusively comprise representatives of political parties, as in Parliament.
“Any suggestions that the proposed referendum to allow partisan politics in our local elections was not discussed by the House is not only dishonest but wanton mischief,” Togbe Afede said in a new statement released on Sunday.
Following Thursday’s statement some chiefs including the Okyenhene Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin who said: “statement issued by the President of the National House of Chiefs does not reflect the views of the traditional leadership of Ghana”.
The Governance Committee Chairman of the National House of Chiefs, Nana Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, who also questioned the statement by Togbe Afede and the Vice said “it is never true” that the House met on the issue.
But Togbe Afede said the meetings that discussed the referendum was attended by Nana Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II contrary to what the latter claimed.
Below is the latest statement from the National House of Chiefs:
RE – PRESS STATEMENT ON THE REFERENDUM ON LOCAL ELECTIONS
On November 14 2019 we issued a press statement to express the views of the National House of Chiefs (the House) on the forthcoming referendum to allow partisan politics in our local elections
Our attention has been drawn to statements allegedly made by a colleague member of the House. The Ogyeahoho. Yaw Gyebi II. Sefwi Anhwiasohene. denying the fact that the House and its Standing Committee discussed the referendum. expressed their concerns, and adopted a position on the matter
To set the records straight we present below the background to the above-referenced press statement
Visit to the House by the Deputy Minister of Local Government
The Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Hon Kwasi Boateng Adjei and his team were in the House on December 19 20. at the invitation of the House to discuss the subject matter of the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (M.D.’s)
He stated that. government had decided that MMDCE’s should be elected on partisan basis and as a result. the Ministry had developed a road map to ensure the realization of the policy
The main presentation was delivered by Dr Oduro Osae Technical Director of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
In response to some issues and questions raised by Nananom after his presentation, Dr Oduro Osae stated that. ‘The consensus among stakeholders was that election of MMDCE should be done on partisan basis He stated that. he had no answer at the moment for the role that Traditional Authorities would play in the election of MMDCEs.
Dr Osae also said after amending Article 55 (3) another consequential Article that would be amended was Article 243 (1) so that MMDCE’s would not be appointed but elected.
“Togbe President directed the Governance and Development and the Legal Affairs Committees of the House to meet and prepare a position paper on the election of MMDCE’s for the consideration of the House and subsequent presentation to government”
(Minutes of meeting of the National House of Chiefs Wednesday 19th December 2018)
Report of Nana S. Krobea Asante Asokorehene and Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs Nana Asante, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs prepared and submitted to the House a report dated 22nd January 2019. Here are excerpts from Nana’s report:
“The National House of Chiefs supports the current policy of Government to effect constitutional amendments to ensure that chief executives of District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies would be elected, not appointed officials.
However, the current focus is on holding a referendum to amend Article 55(3) of the Constitution to permit the introduction of partisan politics into local government. ‘The House should strongly object to the notion that membership of local assemblies should exclusively comprise representatives of political parties as in Parliament.
‘It has to be pointed out incidentally, that the introduction of partisan polices into local government should not be accompanied by the unwholesome political culture associated with partisan politics
The incidence of exclusiveness the unhealthy polarization of all issues, the marginalization of citizens who do not belong to the ruling party and the exclusion of skilled manpower on partisan grounds would be detrimental to development and good governance at the local level.
Currently, the appointment of 30% Government nominees to local assemblies has been totally vitiated by partisan politics with the result that appointments are determined by party membership to the virtual exclusion of traditional authorities which are usually allocated a minimal representation by the executive of the ruling party – a total travesty of principles of good governance.
It has been argued that the proposed local government reforms would ultimately lead to inclusive government in the country This is only marginally valid in the sense that the election of chief executives of districts etc. could result in the coexistence of central government and local government controlled by different political parties. However, at the local level experience clearly demonstrates that the culture of “winner takes all” would prevail to the detriment of united development endeavours.
It should also be pointed out that effective decentralization would be adversely affected by the control of local parties by the headquarters of national political parties – “It is manifestly inaccurate to declare to the general public that the amendment of Article 55(3) would automatically result in the introduction of the system of electing chief executives of Local Assemblies.”
Standing Committee Meeting of 26th February 2019: Adoption of Nana Asante’s report.
The Standing Committee, at its meeting on 26th February 2019, discussed and adopted Nana Asante’s report “as the position of the House-, as captured as follows in the minutes of that meeting.
“The election of MMDCE’s on partisan basis was discussed by the Committee The committee also adopted a memorandum on the election of MMDCE’s submitted by Nana Susubribi Krobea Asante, Asokorehene as the position of the House.
The Acting Registrar was directed to write to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on the matter”
Present at that meeting were fourteen (14) members (including The Ogyeahoho, Yaw Gyebi II, Sefwi Anhwiasohene) of the eighteen (18) member Standing Committee
General Meeting of 27th February 2019 The House at its meeting on 27 February 2019, had a final discussion on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCE’s) through partisan elections. Togbe President asked for further comments, if any, on the Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Nana Susubribi Krobea Asante, Asokorehene’s memorandum, and further directed the Governance and Development Committee to discuss the matter and submit their comments
The Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, Sefwi Anhwiasohene was at the meeting.
Standing Committee Meeting of 12th June 2019: Submission to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The Acting Registrar informed the Standing Committee, at its 12th June 2019 meeting that he had submitted the comments of the House on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief Executives to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The House is yet to receive a response from the Ministry
The Ogyeahoho, Yaw Gyebi II, Sefwi Anhwiasohene was at the meeting
Multi-Stakeholder Conference on the Upcoming Referendum
The position of the House as captured in Nana Asante’s report was also presented to the Multi-Stakeholder Conference held at the Bank of Ghana Auditorium Legon, on 7th June 2019
As shown by the above summary:
i) The proposed referendum to allow partisan politics in our local elections was thoroughly discussed at the National House of Chiefs, both by the Standing Committee and the General Meeting
ii) The report presented by the Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Nana Krobea Asante, which formed the basis of the recent press statement was adopted ‘as the position of the House’, and it included the recommendation that ‘The House should strongly object to the notion that membership of local assemblies should exclusively comprise representatives of political parties, as in Parliament.
iii) Any suggestions that the proposed referendum to allow partisan politics in our local elections was not discussed by the House is not only dishonest but wanton mischief
Togbe Afede XIV, President Daasebre Nana Kweku Ewusi VII, Vice President
November 16, 2019