Local Governance Expert, Ing Amon Kotei says the Minister for Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development is responsible for the corruption introduced into the confirmation of MMDCE nominees.
Explaining his position, he noted that the initial standing orders required for the setting up of an adhoc committee to vet the nominee at the assembly level but that is no more. “The assembly members are now forced to act instead of vetting the nominee. The vetting at the assembly level helped the assembly members get acquainted with the vision, human relations, financial management and technical knowledge of the nominee, and inform the larger house before they are confirmed.”
With the standing orders removed by the Local Governance Minister, Dan Botwe and the assembly members officially not having any opportunity to interact with MMDCE nominees, the position has become a cash and carry system, he indicated.
In an interview with Happy98.9FM’s Don Kwabena Prah on the Epa Hoa Daben political talk show, Amon Kotei stated, “MMDCE nominees now meet with assembly members in secrecy and money and other gift items are traded for their confirmation. This is the situation we find ourselves in as the ideal scenario has been replaced with the exchange of envelopes full of cash. If we stuck to the adhoc committee vetting which had a secretary recording proceedings, no money would have been exchanged.”
Ing Amon Kotei who is against the election of MMDCEs along party line argues if this happens, “money will take over the election. If we can’t control this phenomenon at the national level when it comes to the election of MPs, how can we prevent it at the assembly level? The cost of running a democracy in Africa has become nonsense”
He predicts about 90 percent of nominees for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will be confirmed by their respective assemblies.
Background
The government has released President Akufo-Addo’s choice of nominees for the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies across the country.
The minister for Local Government, Dan Botwe at the minister’s press briefing on Sunday, September 19, 2021 indicated that the list has been forwarded to the various regional ministers.
The local assemblies have started confirming and in some cases rejecting nominees after the list reaching the regions. Their actions have been considered bias as there have been claims of a cash and carry system with some MMDCE nominees paying to be confirmed.
