The Member of Parliament for Adentan, Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, has expressed his support for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s proposal to make Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) elected officials.
Ramadan argues that electing MMDCEs would enhance accountability in local governance and bring decision-making closer to the people.
He emphasized that revisiting this proposal is crucial for empowering local communities and defining the distinct roles of elected representatives.
Currently, MMDCEs are appointed by the President, a process critics say makes them more accountable to the central government than to the local communities they serve.
Adamu Ramadan is of the view that appointed MMDCEs may not feel as compelled to address local needs as they would if elected directly.
He believes that introducing partisanship into these elections could strengthen the community’s voice and establish a direct link between MMDCEs and their constituents.
Ramadan further highlighted the financial challenges MPs face in meeting infrastructural needs due to limited budget allocations based on government revenue.
He noted that MPs typically receive around GH₵400,000 to GH₵450,000 annually—if government revenue targets are met—a sum insufficient for substantial projects like road construction.
“How much does a kilometre of road cost? It’s far beyond that allocation,” he explained.
“Because we don’t elect our MMDCEs, they don’t feel accountable to the people. Electing our chief executives would give voters a clearer understanding of the distinct mandates of MPs and MMDCEs. I believe this is the way forward,” he told Citi News.
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