May 1st, 2020 at 02:52 pm
EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND: Know the meaning of the YES and NO in the referendum
On the 17th of December 2019, a referendum shall be carried out through the ballot, alongside the District Assembly elections…
There has been some misrepresentations, misconceptions and fact twistings in the whole process which is actually keeping the Ghanaian electorates in the dark.
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana (Article 243) makes provision for the appointment of DCEs by the President of the Republic, subject to the approval by two third majority of the Assembly.
Article 243 (1)
“There shall be a District chief Executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the Assembly present and voting at the meeting.”
Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution also makes provision for political parties to select and sponsor candidates in Presidential and Parliamentary elections, “except” local government elections (MMDCEs, Assembly members, Unit Committee members Presiding Officers…)
Article 55(3)
_”Subject to the provisions of this article, a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character, and sponsor candidates for election to any public office either than to district assemblies or lower local government unit”_
Already, Article 243(1) has been amended by parliament some weeks ago (the general public had no input in that. It was solely for Parliament to do). Which means, henceforth, the President cannot appoint MMDCEs again but rather, they will be elected.
Now, what the referendum is asking us to do is to determine whether the election of our MMDCEs should be done with political party sponsorship like the usual NPP, NDC, CPP elections, or it should be done like how the Assembly members and Unit Committee members are elected *(No party colours)
Remember, after Parliament amends article 243(1) (which has been done already), MMDCEs will be elected. Your vote in the referendum is to determine whether the election of the MMDCEs should be the usual NPP NDC election style (political) or it should be like the Assembly Members election (Neutral)
YES means it should be the usual NPP NDC style (Political)
NO means it it should be like the Assembly Members election (Neutral)…..
Remember, MMDCEs will still be elected whether you vote YES or NO in the referendum [because article 243 (1) has been amended by parliament, making it impossible for MMDCEs to be appointed by the President]…