Former Presiding Member for the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Romeo Akahoho is accusing various Metropolitan and District Chief Executives(MMDCEs) of corruption following the vacuum created by the absence of assembly members.
[contextly_sidebar id=”RRu8bdreZFCHgt5lQmmZWArCnEoVRwxM”]The Local Government Minister ordered MMDCEs to take over the day-to-day administrative functions of their Assemblies from Monday 16th, March, 2015.
The dissolution of the MMDAs became necessary following the Supreme Court’s order for the District Assemblies to be called off.
MMDCEs were tasked to take responsibility for the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of their Assemblies under Article 243(2) (b) and (c) of the Constitution and Section 20 (3) (b) (c) and (d) of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462).
But the former Presiding member told Citi News the directive for the MMDCEs to work even in the absence of assembly members is festering corruption.
“The framers of the law, …know what they were doing. Section 4 of the Act 624 , says the Assembly shall be in perpetual succession.They know why they were saying that there should be a succession.They should not be a break in Assembly. If there is a break, these are the challenges we face…” he said
He pointed out that the Auditor General who is supposed to regulate activities of the MMDCEs had also been transferred.
Ghanaians label MMDCEs as corrupt
Aside the former presiding member, Ghanaians have generally labeled MMDCEs as corrupt.
An Afrobarometer report revealed that about 84% of Ghanaians perceive MMDCEs as corrupt.
The report released by the Center for the Democratic Development (CDD) also disclosed that 63% of Ghanaians believe that MMDCEs are not effective in their work.
The issue about electing MMDCE’s took a centre stage in Ghana’s politics in 2014;while some believed the move will make them more accountable , others thought otherwise.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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