“We don’t have the mindset of sabotage” – NPP on MMDCE election proposal

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has indicated that it will carefully examine the government's proposal to change the process for selecting Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), with the aim of supporting measures that bolster Ghana's decentralization system. NPP Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, emphasized that the party would not approach the proposal with the intention of engaging in political sabotage, despite accusing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of intentionally thwarting former President Nana Akufo-Addo's attempt to introduce the election of MMDCEs through partisan means.

Speaking on JoyFM's Top Story on September 9, Mr. Mohammed recalled the controversy surrounding President Akufo-Addo's proposal to amend the Constitution to allow MMDCEs to be elected through partisan elections, which was subsequently thwarted by the NDC. He pointed out that the current Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, had acknowledged that the NDC deliberately sabotaged the proposal, as evidenced by a recording.

While accusing the NDC of frustrating the proposal and recognizing its potential benefits for Ghana's decentralization system, Mr. Mohammed stated that the NPP would not adopt a similar approach to the current proposal. He questioned whether the proposed arrangement would significantly alter the existing system for appointing MMDCEs, asserting that while the proposed process might increase the number of individuals involved in voting, the President would still hold substantial influence over the selection of MMDCEs.

Under the proposed arrangement, five candidates would first undergo a public service interview, but Mr. Mohammed argued that this change does not fundamentally alter the appointment process, as the President would still be the one appointing the candidates. He emphasized that the major difference would be the number of people participating in the selection of the final candidate, but beyond that, the process would remain the same.

The NPP Deputy General Secretary called for a more comprehensive and objective national discussion on the proposed reforms, urging against reducing the issue to partisan politics. He criticized the NDC for not aligning their words with their actions and called for genuine engagement, stating that the NDC lacks the necessary sincerity in their discourse.

Mr. Mohammed also extended an invitation to stakeholders, including organized labor, to continue contributing to the discussions on the proposed reforms, highlighting that ordinary citizens are the ultimate beneficiaries of Ghana's governance system and should remain at the forefront of these discussions.