The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has backed the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), but wants candidates for the positions to be nominated and sponsored by political parties.
The position forms part of the party’s response to the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) and the government’s proposals for amendments to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
Announcing the party’s position on the constitutional review commissions’ report, member of the party’s committee set up to review the report, Hon. Hassan Tampuli, said the party’s position is guided by the need to protect democratic principles, strengthen institutions and ensure that constitutional reforms reflect broad national consensus.
The party wants political parties to be allowed to nominate and sponsor candidates for the elections, providing voters with identifiable political platforms and allowing parties to take responsibility for candidates they put forward.
The NPP’s position also comes against the background of the government’s proposal to amend Article 243(1) to replace the current presidential appointment of MMDCEs with direct election. The government has proposed that the elections should remain non-partisan.
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Beyond MMDCE elections, the NPP has rejected the CRC recommendation to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four years to five years. The party maintains that the existing four-year presidential mandate should be retained.
The party has also raised concerns about the process through which the proposed constitutional amendments are being pursued. The NPP is calling for a Constituent Assembly or broad-based consultative mechanism involving key stakeholders before the country proceeds with what it considers significant changes to the constitutional order.
The NPP has further argued that constitutional reform should not amount to a wholesale rewriting of the 1992 Constitution through the ordinary amendment process. Its Policy Committee Chairman, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the party wants a broader deliberative process to determine the future direction of the Constitution.
The NPP says constitutional reform must ultimately uphold the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people, democratic values and Ghana’s long-term institutional interests, while ensuring that any amendments are subjected to adequate public consultation and the constitutionally required processes.
The debate is expected to continue as government and political parties engage on the proposed amendments, including the future framework for local government elections, presidential tenure and the broader process for reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Vincent Kwofie
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