The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) has called for a clear and transparent process to screen nominees for the position of chief executive of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

?This is an important first step in holding public office holders accountable,? the CDD said in a statement issued in Accra yesterday. It said the move would ensure that only qualified and suitable nominees are entrusted with the responsibility of high public office, especially where such officers have control over public funds.

The CDD said it had been following with keen interest the process of approving or vetting of the President?s nominees for the position of chief executives of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

The vetting of aspiring public office holders, the statement said, remains a very important responsibility for all assembly members. It is essential to fostering probity and accountability, securing and sustaining a functioning and effective system of decentralised local government as envisaged under the 1992 Constitution and meeting the aspirations of Ghanaians for good governance and democracy.

The CDD acknowledged the discretion and latitude granted to assemblies in the discharge of their duties, but recommended that the assemblies elaborate appropriate procedures for approving or rejecting DCEs.

It also stressed the need for the assemblies to establish appropriate approval committees where there are none to thoroughly vet nominees before they are presented to the full assembly for confirmation or rejection.