The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) says it will take its anti-corruption demonstration to the Central region on January 11.

The demonstration, according to a statement issued by the Convener of the party’s Anti-Corruption Coalition, William Dowokpor, will focus on “the need to evolve our local governance system to enable it fight and prevent corruption”.

It said: “According to the latest Auditor General’s Report, our country loses some Four Billion Cedis annually, to corruption and wastage in the public sector alone”.

“The need to remove the democratic deficit in our governance system with the direct and popular election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), is a key reform that must take place for transparent and good accountable governance to prevail”.

The PPP noted that: “Besides giving power to the people for rapid sustainable development and the guarantee of local accountability when all categories of local government Chief Executives are elected; the absolute control and abuse of local government budget by the Executive, evidenced by their bulk procurement of goods and services will be removed for the resources to be applied to priority areas of the Assemblies”.

We maintain our strongest protest against the government white paper that seeks to have the President nominate a minimum of five (5) persons who would be vetted by the Public Services Commission (PSC) for competence after which three (3) of the nominees would contest in a public election.

It is our firm belief therefore, that the following reforms are urgent for the evolution of our governance system and for rapid socio economic development:

i. Removing the “hand” of the Executive (Presidency) from the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, through popular election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) by the people.

ii. Turning the Office of Attorney-General into an Independent Prosecutor’s Office separate from the Ministry of Justice so that the Office is removed from the negative influence of partisan politics; and

iii. Separating the Legislature (Parliament) from the Executive (Presidency) so that effective checks and balance can operate without fear or favour.