The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs-designate, Ahmed Ibrahim, has stated that Ghanaians overwhelmingly support the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on a non-partisan basis.

Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Ahmed Ibrahim expressed his disagreement with the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) stance that these elections should be conducted on partisan lines.

"I do agree that MMDCEs must be elected. The second question is I disagree that it must be done on partisan basis and that is the bone of contention between the two sides.

"We said MMDCEs must be elected on non-partisan basis, and you said they must be elected on partisan basis. We sold these two views to Ghanaians. We had 184. You had 88. It means Ghanaians totally agree with election of MMDCEs on non-partisan basis. And I believe that if there's any time that this should be done, it should be now," he noted.

The debate over the election of MMDCEs has sparked widespread discussions about the future of local governance in Ghana.

Advocates of partisan elections, including the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), argue that this approach would enhance transparency and accountability in local governance.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) supports this view, suggesting that partisan elections could increase political participation and enable political parties to mobilise resources effectively for community development.

On the other hand, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) opposes the idea of partisan elections, cautioning that it could intensify political tensions and electoral disputes at the local level.

The party has raised concerns about the financial burden of partisan elections, arguing that such a system could divert resources from crucial developmental initiatives.

The NDC advocates for a non-partisan approach, which they believe would center governance on addressing community needs, rather than advancing party agendas.

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In the meantime, watch as Agbodza gives details of actual kilometres of road constructed by the Akufo-Addo govt