It is unfortunate that every time they are presented with a rare
historic opportunity to effect lasting change - which will benefit
present and future generations - so many members of our political class
allow short-term political considerations to cloud their judgement -
leading them to forgo the opportunity to impact society positively,
and, above all, to be on the right side of history.
Recent news that District Chief Executives (DCE) are to be elected in
the not too distant future - when the constitution is finally amended -
must be welcomed by all Ghanaians who believe in multi-party
constitutional democracy.
That local-community-empowering decision, is a golden opportunity for
the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to redeem itself.
Alas, it failed Mother Ghana terribly, when it had a historic
opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against corruption,
at the time it assumed power in January 2009, but failed to seize it.
Like the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regime of President Kufuor before it,
the NDC regime of President Mills missed an opportunity to make a
difference in the fight against corruption, when it first came into
office in January 2009 - by failing to establish a convention in
which the president, his ministers and other high-level appointees,
such as District Chief Executives (DCE), and their spouses, publicly
publish their assets before assuming office, and immediately after
leaving office.
It now has yet another historic opportunity that this time it should
not miss - as the election of DCE's will help deepen the roots of
Ghanaian democracy yet further.
If the constitution is to be amended to allow the election of DCE's, it
is far better that political parties, rather than a sitting president,
are allowed to nominate candidates for election to the position of
District Chief Executive (DCE).
One of the many benefits, in so doing, is that it will enable us
lower the political temperature in our country considerably - as it
is probable that candidates of all the parties in Ghana will win
elections for DCE's in some of the districts across the country.
That will definitely make the opposition parties feel that they too have a stake in the running of the country.
And above all, they will be able to demonstrate to Ghanaians at the
grassroots-level, in a practical manner, their suitability for being
entrusted with leadership at the national level - by the performance of
their parties' elected DCE's in running the District Assemblies they
control around the country.
If DCE's are elected on a party political basis, they will be responsive
to the needs of local people - whose welfare will be at the centre of
the general scheme of things in districts across Ghana.
That cannot be a bad development for the Ghanaian polity - especially as
the running of District Assemblies will be suitable training for
leadership at the national level, for those elected as DCE's.
That is why the NDC regime of President Mills must be farsighted enough
to seize what is a golden opportunity to bring democracy to the
doorsteps of local communities across Ghana.
Such a development is bound to turn out to be a coveted legacy, that
will forever be associated with their party, in the minds of the
Ghanaian electorate - and is one that they must strive to achieve.
For that, and the reasons mentioned above (amongst many others),
instead of the President of the Republic of Ghana nominating candidates
for election to the position of DCE, the NDC government of President
Mills, would be wise to allow Ghana's political parties - as well as
individuals electing to stand as independent candidates themselves -
to nominate candidates for election to the position of District Chief
Executive. A word to the wise...
Tel: 027 745 3109.
Email: peakofi.thompson@gmail.com
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