The Deputy Local Government Minister, Nii Lante Vanderpuije has defended the Ministry\u2019s directive asking Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives(MMDCEs) to\u00a0take over the day-to-day administrative functions of their Assemblies.<\/p>\n
A press statement issued by the Ministry of Communications noted that \u201call regional ministers, pursuant to Article 246(1) of the 1992 Constitution the MMDAs stand dissolved<\/strong> <\/a>by the close of work on 14th March 2015\u201d .<\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”McMvra84JYkDB4AAWLpJGlDqKVBfgNHe”]The statement further indicated that \u201cMetropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives(MMDCEs) shall be responsible 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).\u201d<\/p>\n The dissolution of the MMDAs has become necessary following the Supreme Court\u2019s order for the scheduled \u00a0District Assemblies to be called off.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Describing the directive as constitutional, Nii Lantey said\u00a0\u201cthe constitution mandates the tenure of the district assemblies.No one can usurp its authority.”<\/p>\n Speaking on Eyewitness News, he explained that since it will be impossible to extend the tenure of the members of the district assemblies , it sought to \u201crespect the constitution” by taking such a decision.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sought to preempt any steps that would lead to litigation we have safeguarded the constitution of Ghana.\u201d<\/p>\n The Local Government Ministry’s decision has drawn massive criticism from some Members of Parliament(MPs), however responding to them , Nii Lante said the same MPs would have \u201cattacked the President if the assemblies had gone a day without heads\u201d<\/p>\n While the Local Government Ministry believes their directive is constitutional, the Center for Democratic Development(CDD) Ghana has described the move as unconstitutional<\/p>\n Speaking on Eyewitness News<\/strong>, Programs Officer, Center for Democratic Development (CDD), PNK Aborampah Mensah said the \u201clocal government ministry should have sought Parliament\u2019s approval before taking such a decision.\u201d<\/p>\n He remarked that the constitution does not make “provision for the dissolution of the work of the MMDAs\u201d<\/p>\n PNK Mensah believes the new directive will restrict the functions of the MMDCEs.<\/p>\n He therefore suggested that \u201ca new bill should be brought before the legislature for it to be debated\u201d for the new directive to \u201cfunction well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Marian Efe Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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