Ablekuma South Member of Parliament, Honourable Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije has argued that the era of appointing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives should give way to an electoral system that allows citizens to choose their local leaders, He explained that strengthening Ghana’s democracy begins with expanding participation at the grassroots level.
Honourable Vanderpuije welcomed the government’s decision to support the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives as part of proposed constitutional reforms. He described the move as a significant step towards deepening decentralisation and giving communities greater influence over local governance.
“The days of appointment to local governance level should be a thing of the past. The fundamentals of our elections and elected officers must start at the grassroots.”
Honourable Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije
According to the former Accra Mayor, the existing appointment system limits the direct involvement of citizens in selecting those responsible for overseeing development within their districts. He argued that leaders who emerge through elections are more likely to remain accountable to the people who place them in office.
Additionally, Mr Vanderpuije observed that allowing residents to vote for their District Chief Executives would strengthen public ownership of development initiatives. He explained that when citizens participate directly in choosing their leaders, they are more inclined to support programmes that improve their communities.
Turning to the issue of local accountability, the legislator noted that elected district executives would derive their mandate directly from the electorate. He indicated that such an arrangement would encourage closer engagement between local authorities and the communities they serve.
“We should let the people have a say in who leads them at the grassroots because if the people have a say in who leads them, then they are part of the development of the locality.”
Honourable Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije
Honourable Vanderpuije further argued that Ghana’s democratic journey requires continuous reforms that empower citizens at every level of governance. In his view, decentralisation achieves its full purpose only when local leadership reflects the choice of the people instead of presidential appointment.
Furthermore, the MP emphasised that grassroots governance forms the foundation of national development. He remarked that strengthening democratic participation within districts could improve confidence in local institutions and encourage residents to play active roles in community affairs.
The proposal aligns with government’s constitutional reform agenda, which seeks to enhance decentralisation and increase citizen participation in local administration. If implemented, the reforms would mark one of the most significant changes to Ghana’s local governance system since the introduction of the Fourth Republic.
Local Elections Reform Set To Reshape District Leadership
The proposed election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) has received support from Ablekuma South Member of Parliament Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, who believes the reform will strengthen grassroots participation. His comments follow government’s decision to adopt a nationwide approach to electing local government leaders under its constitutional review reforms.
Presenting the government’s White Paper on the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations on Thursday, July 30, Attorney General and Minister for Justice Honourable Dominic Ayine explained that the various proposals had been carefully examined through legal and constitutional processes before government arrived at its decisions. He noted that the review considered the implications of each recommendation on Ghana’s democratic governance system.
Dr Ayine indicated that government had gone beyond the committee’s proposal on the election of MMDCEs by choosing a system that would apply across all districts. He explained that the committee had recommended a gradual introduction of the process based on the financial capacity of individual districts.
Under the government’s preferred arrangement, all MMDCE positions would become subject to elections across the country. The process would begin with the President nominating five candidates, including two women, for consideration before a further selection stage takes place.
Following the nomination process, three candidates would proceed to contest the election after undergoing the required vetting procedures. The final candidates would include at least one woman, ensuring gender representation within the selection process.
The reform is expected to change how leadership at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly level is determined. It will introduce a system where citizens have a direct role in choosing individuals responsible for managing local development and administrative responsibilities.
Honourable Vanderpuije argued that such a move would strengthen the connection between communities and their leaders. According to him, allowing residents to participate in selecting MMDCEs would ensure that local authorities receive their mandate directly from the people they serve.
Furthermore, the proposed arrangement could redefine the relationship between district assemblies and citizens by increasing public involvement in local governance. The former Accra Mayor believes elected MMDCEs would have greater responsibility to respond to the priorities of their communities.
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