Local Government and Rural Development Minister Hajia Alima Mahama has revealed that if government’s objective to ensure election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) is realised, “the president, henceforth, will have no hand in their appointments; the power will be reserved to the people”.

She made the announcement at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, April 26.

She stated that “it is the expectation of the president that this will be the last time MMDCEs will be appointed in this manner”, adding that government was expediting processes for the bill to be laid before parliament for election of MMDCEs.

Hajia Mahama further stated that “the time has come for the expansion of local democracy for their direct election by the people of their districts”.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised Ghanaians, prior to the 2016 elections, that it will institute processes to ensure that MMDCEs are not appointed but elected.