The President of the Groupe Nduom, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, has reiterated the call for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) positions to be made elective.
He said making the positions elective would make the MMDCEs accountable to their constituents and help promote development at the local level.
The convention
Addressing the opening session of the 7th Biennial Supreme Subordinate Convention of the Knights of St John International at Cape Coast , Dr Nduom attributed the low rate of development at the local level to the President’s appointment of the MMDCEs.
The five-day programme, on the theme: “The Role of the Faithful, in the Changing World,” brought together delegates from all over the country to rededicate themselves as knights and ladies of the order of the Catholic Church.
Elective position of MMDCEs
Speaking on varied issues, Dr Nduom observed that the challenges that plagued the various local areas were as a result of the appointment of what he described, the “mayors” of those areas.
“If we want to allow democracy to work at every facet of our development agenda, then there is the need for us to reconsider appointing our MMDCEs.
“We all must assist to change the 1992 Constitution to make the position of our MMDCEs an elective one,” he added.
On corruption, Dr Nduom described the phenomena as “a big deal” , which must be tackled with all seriousness, saying, “If we do that, we will be able to address most of the challenges confronting us as a country.”
Decouple
He further added his voice to the need to detach the Ministry of Justice from the Attorney General Department as a way of reducing corruption in the country.
The Central Regional Minister, Mr Acquinas Tawiah Quansah, underscored the need for partnership between the government and the church to promote effective development.
He bemoaned the high level of corruption, which he said “is fast destroying society,” and stressed that a huge portion of resources meant for development of the country was wasted on corruption.
Mr Quansah commended the Catholic Church for its contribution towards the development of the country in the areas of education, health and agriculture.
Role of the church
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Mathias Kobena Nketsiah, said the church had an irreplaceable role to play in the development of the society and called on members to uphold the virtues of morality and avoid all forms of vices in the society.
“You have a special duty to teach and shape society in the right direction,” Most Rev. Nketsiah told the members.
The President of the Supreme Subordinate Board of Trustees, Major General Sir Justices Dennis Adjei, said the world had changed socially, economically and physically, which had both negative and positive impact on the society.
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Source: Graphic Online