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The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Dan Bowte, is set to release the list of confirmed nominees to head local assemblies on Sunday, 19 September 2021.
The long awaited announcement of the Chief Executives of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) is expected to be done at the Ministry of Information Press Centre at 1:00 hours.
Civil Society Organizations, Policy think tanks, and other groups of inidividuals including politicians and some section of the general public have all questioned Government’s delay in announcing the MMDCEs since the beginning of President Akufo-Addo’s second term of office.
They have among other concerns raised, complained about how the delay in appointing and announcing the Chief Executives has stalled progress in the works of the various assemblies.
Additionally, many assembly members have called on the President to remove from office their assembly heads and replace them with their choice for various reasons.
Among persons who have been targeted to be removed are Kofi Ofori aka Bella for Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly and Emmanuel Asore Avoka, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Garu District in the Upper East Region.
With the level of anticipation exhibited towards the release of the list of confirmed nominees, it has become a concern of national security, informing the National Security to act proactively to protect the peace of the country.
In a directive issued on September 16, 2021 to the local security councils spread across the country, the Security Coordinator urged the various agencies to be on high alert.
The directive, sighted by angelonline.com.gh read: “There are indications of possible clashes ahead of the announcement of MMDCEs in parts of the country. REGSEC, MUSEC and DISEC are hereby urged to be on high alert to pre-empt breach of peace in the respective areas.”
The New Patriotic Party’s Communications Director, Yaw Buaben Asamoa also encouraged the party members across the country to remain calm and respect President Akufo-Addo’s decision on who is to head their assemblies.
It is therefore hoped that the announcement by Dan Botwe will bring some sanity into all assemblies, as NPP’s Gabby Otchere Darko writes:
“Tomorrow all the speculations will be over, including fake lists and recommendations. Sunday, the Local Government Minister, alongside the Information Minister, shall address a press conference and put the official list of MCEs and DCEs out.
“The only list which matters! Same list will be put on the Info Ministry website afterwards so you can check it for yourself.
“Until then, we are advised to ignore all lists and all publications for just one day p3!”
“Finally, this is not a do or die affair. The President appoints and he does so not to deliberately disappoint anyone but to get his work done. It is that simple. Let’s live with it and make progress.”
