MMDCEs position can be advertised after referendum debacle – Ace Ankomah

 Ace Ankomah, a legal practitioner has proffered possible solutions to the proposed election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), which has been characterised by confusion, misinformation and misconception.

He observed that nothing stops the president from advertising the positions, if he is determined, dedicated and committed to give equal opportunity to the citizenry saying, “when it comes to the MMDCEs, nothing stops the president from advertising the positions for the citizenry to apply for the jobs.

“Then we can conduct intensive job interviews and settle on the best people for the jobs, if the assemblies are truly involved in the interview and selection processes, the two-thirds vote needed to confirm shouldn’t be a challenge since the framers of our much-maligned 1992 Constitution were sufficiently smart to demand super majorities for any attempt to amend the constitution. 

“Non-entrenched clauses require two-thirds majority of Members of Parliament, require referendum with minimum 40 per cent voter turnout and with 75 per cent of them voting “yes” but when it comes to our constitution, you either build broad consensus with the opposition and everyone, or forget it. 

“When we are ready to amend the constitution, we will give winning party the two-thirds majority in parliament and signal we are ready to give 75 per cent of 40 per cent popular vote required, till then, we are stuck with the document, let’s do the best we can with it when it comes to MMDCEs, nothing stops a president from advertising positions for the citizenry to apply for the jobs,” Mr Ankomah proposed. 

Currently, Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution bars political parties from participating in district level elections, the provision can only be amended through referendum where at least 40 per cent of persons entitled to vote, cast their ballots at referendum and at least 75 percent of votes should be in favour of passing the Bill.

A referendum was to decide on amendment of Article 55 (3) of the constitution to enable political parties to participate in local level elections but the president in a national address on Sunday said there was no “durable national consensus” on the matter and cancelled the referendum. -ghanaweb.com