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‘Don’t sit on the fence, get out and vote’ – NDC rallies Ghanaians to participate in tomorrow’s district elections

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The opposition National Democratic Congress is rallying Ghanaians to fully participate in the District Assembly elections scheduled to take place tomorrow, 19th December, 2023.

The call comes amidst fears about a possible record low turnout following the very poor publicity towards this year’s exercise.

A statement signed by NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia acknowledged apathy towards the elections over the past few years but says the current situation, has been compounded by certain government decisions which have further weakened the capacity of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to deliver, thereby diminishing public interest in governance at the local level.

“As we speak, almost all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have been put into a state of financial distress by the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government. The current financial state of majority of MMDAs today is a reflection of the state of mismanagement that our economy and country as a whole has witnessed under the current government.’ he noted
The NDC National Chairman further explained that as a result of the obnoxious and anti-development Capping and Realignment policy of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) is being diverted for other purposes. This situation has left many of these MMDAs highly encumbered and incapable of undertaking any meaningful development at the local level.”
“In most cases, between 20% to 50% of the IGF of various Assemblies is capped, while in some instances, everything including market tolls, toilet fees and mortuary fees are taken by central government, leaving the Assemblies with nothing.” he emphasized.
He expressed regret at the development which has left many MMDA’s virtually bankrupt because Common Fund payments are in arrears for several quarters and cannot undertake developmental projects at the local level.
He however assured, that come 2025 the next NDC government will make frantic efforts to reverse the trend.
This among other bold steps shall include
1. Empower Assemblies to generate and retain more internally-generated funds to finance their operations and other activities.
2. Complete the operationalisation of sub-district structures (Town and Area Councils and Unit Committees) with the allocation of a percentage of the Assemblies revenue to fund micro projects within their jurisdiction.
3. Reduce drastically the number of Ministers and redirect the savings made to pay allowances to Assembly members and

4. Reverse the current trend of recentralisation of award of District-level contracts to ensure real devolution of power to the districts.

Find below the full statement

 

News

NCCE intensifies education on district level elections in Guan District

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The Guan District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Oti Region has intensified public education on the upcoming district level elections.

The move is to whip up interest in the polls, which have witnessed low turn-out over the years.
the Guan District Director, NCCE, Mr Abass Uthman,addressing Chiefs and people of Likpe-Mate, urged them to take keen interest in the polls as its importance could not be over-emphasised.
He said participation in the elections was necessary because it formed the base structure of the local government system in Ghana, thus would help deepen local governance and consolidate the country’s democratic gains.

Mr Abass noted that the development of the local governance system mandated the citizenry to elect to office individuals who would seek their welfare, hence the election must be deviod of partisanship, but rather on competence, experience and the willingness to serve the people.

He, however, bemoaned the level of voter apathy and disinterest in the polls saying it threatened democratic governance and advised the electorate to desist from taking money from the candidates before voting for them.

Chief of Likpe-Mate, Nana Ofori Gyahene III, in a speech read on his behalf, commended the NCCE for the programme and asked for its replication in other areas to create awareness.

The Electoral Commission has announced December 19, 2023 for the District Level Election in the Jasikan and Guan districts following the passage of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 119 and in accordance with the District Level Elections Regulations, 2015 (CI 89).