Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister-Designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, has urged the government to move forward with the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), calling this the opportune moment to enact the change.
The issue of electing MMDCEs has been a topic of debate in Ghana for years, with advocates arguing that it would promote accountability and strengthen local democracy.
However, discussions have been divided on whether the elections should be partisan or non-partisan.
During his vetting before the Appointments Committee on January 21, 2025, Ibrahim firmly supported the idea of non-partisan elections for MMDCEs, emphasizing that such an approach would enhance local governance and ensure more equitable development.
“I believe MMDCEs should be elected, but I disagree with the notion that it should be done on a partisan basis,” he stated. “This issue has been a point of contention in Parliament, with one side advocating for a partisan approach and the other for a non-partisan one.”
Ibrahim also pointed to the recent parliamentary election results as evidence of strong public support for a non-partisan model, adding, “Our caucus has 184 members, compared to 88 on the other side. This clearly shows that Ghanaians favor the election of MMDCEs on a non-partisan basis.”
He concluded by stressing that now is the right time to implement this vital reform.
