VOTE NO! – National House of Chiefs backs no vote campaign

The National House of Chiefs has called on Ghanaians to vote ‘No’ in the upcoming December 17 referendum seeking to allow the participation of political parties in local level elections.

The Chiefs, among other things is concerned the introduction of partisan politics into local government will be accompanied by the unwholesome political culture and the corruption associated with partisan politics, which according to them has already done a lot of harm to our society.

The National House of Chiefs, who are the latest to join the ‘No vote campaign’ in a statement signed by the President of the House of Chiefs, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli state, Togbe Afede XIV strongly object to to the proposal that membership of local assemblies should exclusively comprise representatives of political parties, as is the case of Parliament.

Allowing political parties to participate in the local polls according to the chiefs will further promote exclusiveness associated with political power in the country.

It noted “While we are aware 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, experience clearly demonstrates that the culture of “winner takes all” would prevail at the local level to the detriment of our united development endeavors. ”

The statement added “The incidence of exclusiveness, the unhealthy politicization of all issues, the marginalization of citizens who do not belong to the ruling party, and the exclusion of traditional authorities and other non-political groups – a total travesty of principles of good governance.

The chiefs believe by every democratic principle, traditional authorities and other non-political groups must have a legitimate say in the use of their resources and the selection and location of development projects financed by such resources.

President Akufo-Addo, however, has been at the forefront advocating for a ‘Yes’ vote come December 17.

Speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Akatsi District Assembly, on Monday, 4th November, 2019, at the commencement of his 2-day tour of the Volta Region, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the District Assembly Concept, introduced some 31 years ago, under the Rawlings era, is one of the most important contributions to the improvement of Ghana’s national governance.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the District Assembly concept “has led to the enhancement of participatory involvement of our people in their local government. Now, it is time to deepen the process that was began 31 years ago, and entrust to the people full sovereignty over the election of the MMDCEs and members of the District Assemblies”.

President Akufo-Addo believes it is time to strip the veneer of non-partisanship away, and look at the reality, which is according to him is multi-party and partisan.

“We want to bring democracy to the local level a step further, and entrust to the people the right to select directly themselves their MMDCEs as well as their MPs, and do so in an open, transparent, and partisan multi-party basis, ” he noted.

Meanwhile, Article 55(3) of the Constitution prohibits parties from sponsoring candidates into local government and hence the decision by Parliament, together with the Executive have gone through the motions and processes necessary to do so come December 17.