Reform local gov’t system before electing MMDCEs – Former Mayor of Accra

Former Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Chief Executive Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah has urged for significant reforms within Ghana's local government system prior to the introduction of elections for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). This appeal comes as the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) considers the proposal to allow for the direct election of MMDCEs as part of their efforts to deepen decentralization and bolster local governance.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face, Sowah expressed doubt that merely altering the process of selecting MMDCEs would substantially enhance the performance of cities and districts without first tackling the existing institutional limitations within the local government framework. "Voting is not going to make a difference. You will end up with all sorts of individuals because the systems that enable effective functioning haven't been established yet," he stated.

Sowah emphasized that elected MMDCEs must possess adequate authority over the administrative structures and personnel essential to carry out their development initiatives. He pointed out that under the current system, these leaders have limited control over key officials within their assemblies, as they cannot hire or fire personnel or directly influence the appointment of crucial department heads.

"Your entire staff is not recruited by you. You cannot hire and fire. Your city coordinating director comes from somewhere else; somebody has to send them to you. Your planning director, your finance director, all of them have been transferred to you from other places. You don’t have control, so you are essentially just a figurehead," he argued.

To address this, Sowah recommended amendments to the legal and institutional framework governing local authorities before contemplating the election of MMDCEs. He firmly believed that providing elected local government leaders with the necessary powers would ensure that those voted into office have the authority required to meet their obligations effectively.

"I’m against the election because unless we change the law and grant the power to the city authority, and then when you elect the person, you know that you have given them the power to do their job," he said. Sowah suggested that the national dialogue should extend beyond merely identifying who will hold the MMDCE position and focus on whether the current system equips elected leaders with the tools and authority needed to fulfill their roles.

He cautioned that electing individuals without first reforming the underlying system might result in those leaders being unable to deliver on their responsibilities. "Elections of MMDCEs are being discussed, but I ask, what are we aiming to achieve? It's not just about the individual who occupies the position. There is a system in place.

If that system hasn’t changed, electing someone will likely result in poor performance. It’s about the working relationship you have," he explained. Sowah’s stance underscores the importance of institutional reform, administrative control, and the distribution of authority within Ghana’s local government system, alongside the proposed change in the method of selecting MMDCEs.