We won’t tolerate MMDCEs, MPs fight – Bawumia
Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia says the government will not tolerate turf wars between Metropolitan Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and Members of Parliament in the country.
According to him, government’s flagship social intervention programmes will require the cooperation and coordination of MMDCEs and MPs.
Speaking at a meeting with some DCEs and MCEs in Accra, Dr Bawumia urged them to unite to ensure fast track development in their respective areas. “The occasional ramblings and tensions between sitting MPs and sitting MMDCEs do not advance the course of development of their respective constituencies. Many share the view that the perennial conflicts between MMDCEs and MPs have been the bane of our decentralising effort as a nation. Many of this government’s flagship programme will be realised by the central role of MPs and MMDCEs.”
There have been some instances where MMDCEs and MPs fight each over control and
This situation usually occurs when they are both from different political parties.
Dr Bawumia said such conflicts between MMDCEs and MPs impede national development.
“One district one factory, one village one dam, the development authorities are all on board and at various levels of implementation. We have recently inaugurated new MMDAs increasing the stock from 2016 to 254. This is to ensure that governance is brought to the doorstep of the people,” Dr Bawumia added.
Publish roadmap for the election of MMDCEs – Group to government
During the campaign for the 2016 elections, the New Patriotic Party and President Akufo-Addo promised to ensure the election of local assembly officers to promote accountability and good governance.
However, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, at a recent forum hinted that the elections would be held in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Center for Local Governance Advocacy has asked the government to publish a roadmap for the implementation of the election of MMDCEs.
Many believe that the turf war between MMDCEs and MPs could be a thing of the past if such positions are electable.
“We need to push the ministry [of Local Government and Rural Development] to come up with their roadmap. I think when Ghanaians see their roadmap they will be convinced. Let them publish it for everybody to have and then we will monitor whatever they’ve told us and if they are not able to go by their roadmap then we can say they have deceived us,” Deputy Executive Director of the Center, Gladys Tetteh said in a Citi News interview.
