He said there was the need to adopt a “national position” on that for it to work in the interest of democracy.  Mr. Jonah was speaking at a sensitization workshop on the election of MMDCEs held in Ho under the auspices of the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.

It brought together the political parties, traditional and religious leaders, market women, driver associations and non-governmental organizations. “Electing MMDCEs to improve local democracy and good governance” was the theme chosen for the workshop.

Mr. Jonah asked the parties to overcome the polarization and division – to find a common ground, adding that, this was in the interest of everybody. “The case for electing of MMDCEs is clear. All the parties are for it. It is time for us to feel that sense of oneness. It is not the idea of any single individual person. It is something we all want and must work in togetherness for it.”

Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, said that was going to strengthen the local governance. It would whip up interest in local government and help to bridge, what she termed “the governance gap”.

The other high points of the election of the MMDCEs were the security of tenure and bringing down the political “exclusion and winner takes all politics”. Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah, a Deputy Minister at the Ministry, repeated that a referendum to decide on this would be held alongside the district level election in September, next year.

He encouraged strong support by all stakeholders.

The Ministry was consulting widely and working on the amendment of relevant articles in the 1992 Constitution including the Political Parties Act, District Level Election Act for a smooth exercise.

By A.B. Kafui Kanyi/Rosina Oyivor, GNA