A Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Augustine Collins Ntim, has advised the Ghanaian media to start education and public sensitization on the upcoming referendum on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

It follows concerns raised by a section of Ghanaians about the lack of public education on the exercise to prepare the ground for a successful referendum.

A section of the public seems unaware of the upcoming referendum; a situation, many fear will lead to apathy.

Speaking in an interview with Kwame Tutu on ‘Anopa Nkomo’ on Accra based Kingdom FM 107.7, Mr. Augustine Collins Ntim said,“’The media should engage the people and send the message across. The issue of the election of MMDCEs is not a contentious one since all the political parties and the general population crave for it. Let’s engage more, build consensus and do the job,’ he said.

Mr. Ntim said it was about development, hence the need for the media in Ghana to play important roles in deciding who could work better to steer their progress.

According to him all and sundry including; Media, traditional and religious leaders to support the process, especially with regard to educating the citizenry about the initiative and its importance to democracy.

Although the Electoral Commission has slated December 10, 2019, for the referendum, a section of the Ghanaian public is worried by the seeming lack of information on the upcoming referendum.

He underlined the significant role of key actors such as the Council of State, Attorney General’s Department, Judiciary, Cabinet and the sector ministry to keenly monitor the processes and urged Parliament to hasten the processes when the Bill finally gets to Parliament for the election to be conducted within the stipulated time in September 2019 to guarantee its success.

It sought to among others, build consensus on how to deepen local democracy and good governance with the election of MMDCEs on a partisan basis.

Background

The government has announced the roadmap on elections of Chief Executives across the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country, as part of efforts aimed at deepening the democratic process of the country.

The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), has lauded Government for spearheading measures to ensure that Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) were duly elected.

The referendum is expected to enable Ghanaians to elect Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly Chief Executives (MMDCEs) into office on a political party basis.