A local government expert and former Minister of Local Government in Ex-President John Kufuor’s administration, Kwadwo Adjei-Darko has said that, the lack of interest and low participation in Local Government elections results in unqualified people constituting District Assemblies.
Speaking on Happy FM’s ‘Epa Hoa Daben’ with Doctar Cann, Adjei-Darko made known that only a few partake in District Level elections but the majority of Ghanaians always complain when those elected are not competent for the role. “Only a few people participate in District Assembly elections. If a hundred out of the many voters choose for you, then you turn around to complain that the Assembly elections are useless whilst you are the prime cause”, he said.
According to Adjei–Darko, the majority of people who contest in the District Assembly elections do not even understand the functions of the assembly. “They just like to carry around the title of Assemblyman and nothing else. They cannot do anything to improve the system and this is all because we, voters, do not participate in this all-important process.”
The statesman added that as Ghanaians we should not disassociate ourselves from District level elections but participate fully as we do in the general elections of the country.
Polls opened earlier today for the election of District Assembly and Unit Committee members across the country.
The Electoral Commission (EC) disclosed that some 57,000 candidates have registered to contest the polls. Out of the figure, 18,519 are vying to become Assembly members, while 38,520 want to be Unit Committee members.
By: Joel Sanco
