The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) in a press statement has expressed worry about the apparent delay by the President of the Republic – Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in nominating MMDCEs after seven months into his second term in office.

In the press release, ChaLoG berated the President, noting that the delay is as a result of non-prioritization.

“ChaLoG, therefore, finds the unproductive delay in nominating the MMDCEs by the President as sign of the non-prioritization and the seeming lack of interest in the proper functionality of the Local Governance Structures in this country.”

Therefore, ChaLoG has bemoaned the unnecessary delay by the President and thus, asserted that “the delay will continue to have intended and unintended consequences on the smooth administration of the various MMDAs.”

In retrospection, ChaLoG reminded the President of the directive he gave when he was sworn into office on January 7. The statement also noted that MMDAs all over the country have not undertaken any developmental project as a result of the directive.

“Ghanaians would recall that soon after the President was sworn into office on 7th January, 2021, he caused the Chief of Staff to direct all MMDCEs to continue to remain at post but were expressly warned not to take any major financial decision nor award any contracts until such a time that new MMDCEs were nominated and subsequently confirmed by two-thirds majority of Assembly Members present and voting.

“As a result of this directive, all the MMDAs across the country have not undertaken any new projects even though they continue to collect Property Rates, Business Operating Permits, Markets and Lorry Tolls from rate payers, yet no capital projects are being undertaken by the Assemblies seven (7) months into the year 2021.”

In addition, ChaLoG lamented the poor state of MMDAs due to delay in release of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

“ChaLoG can authoritatively state without any iota of doubt that the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), which is meant to support the MMDAs to undertake development projects have also not been released to the MMDAs the whole of this year, all as a consequence of the unnecessary and unwarranted delay in nominating MMDCEs.”

It can be recalled that this same President nominated MMDCEs in April, 2017 when he was sworn into office to serve his first term of office.

It is against this backdrop that, “ChaLoG is completely at a loss why it has taken the same President seven (7) months to make this very same nomination of MMDCEs for confirmation this time around.”

Meanwhile, ChaLoG wishes to call on the President to urgently come to terms with the negative impact his actions and inactions which has led to the delay in nominating MMDCEs to be confirmed by the Hon Assembly Members, is having on the smooth administration of the MMDAs.

However, ChaLoG concluded the statement by expressing its displeasure at the pace the President is handling issues of MMDAs.

“ChaLoG is therefore deeply worried that, this singular act of the President has and continues to negatively erode the gains made over the years in deepening local governance in this country.”