Appointment of MMDCEs, self inflicted challenge of our President – Alex Kyeremeh

A Former deputy minister for education and a former Member of Parliament for Techiman North Constituency has stated that the appointment of MMDCEs and its challenges is self inflicted by President Akufo-Addo.

President Akufo-Addo in February this year, through the Chief of Staff directed all MMDCEs to act until a time that new nominations are made.

Eight months into the second term of President Akufo-Addo, the long awaited list has not seen the day of light irrespective of the number of times NPP National Executives and Ministers have indicated of the President announcing the list.

The delay in the release of the list continues to court public rancour as local government experts have expressed the various negative impacts the various assemblies are subjected to due to the fact that there are no substantive MMDCEs to take key decisions for the assemblies.

The former deputy minister and a former MP in his write up asked ”what makes appointment of MMDCEs so complex”?

Hon Alex Kyeremeh continued that the current method employed by the President to direct prospective candidates for MMDCEs to party chairmen and subsequently forward the list to the Regional Ministers have a potential to breed corrupt hence the difficulty in coming out with the final list.

Hon Alex Kyeremeh alleged that this method brings corruption as the highest bidder will be recommended for nomination. ”I know someone who bought brand new Lexus 4×4 after one of such vetting” Hon Alex Kyere alleged in his write up.

Kindly read his full writeup below

Hon Alex Kyeremeh writes…_

APPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVES SELF INFLICTED CHALLENGE OF OUR PRESIDENTS.

The appointment of MMDCEs flows from 1992 Constitution Article243(1) which states that the ”President must appoint District Chief with prior approval of not less than two thirds of members of that Assembly present and voted”.

The President elected in this country makes thousands of appointments from Ministers/Deputies, CEOs , Ambassadors, boards etc so what makes appointment of MMDCEs so complex? What is normal practice is that an appointment committee is put in place and they recommend people for appointment and quietly and orderly they go through the rest of the processes and they resume office.

In the case of appointment of DCEs recently, people are asked to submit applications to Constituency Chairmen who intend send them to a Regional Minister. Panel is constituted to shortlist the applicants .

It’s very interesting to see more than 20 people vying for one single slot. Not more than 5 persons from each district are recommended for final interview in Accra.

The problems of this method are that it is a big avenue for corruption where people collect money cows, goats sheep and turkey. I know someone who bought brand new Lexus 4×4 after one of such vetting.

One will recall my Sister Otiko Djaba’s infamous fight with former Northern Regional Chairman of NPP.

At times, higher bidders are appointed and they have to find means to repay their debts. Quality is seriously compromised because such excellent people may not have enough money to see them through. It seriously undermines unity in the party and rivalry among communities that affects performance of the person who finally get the nod.

It is common for all those who lost the bid to team up against the one appointed with the hope that if he fails they can get opportunity to take over.

My question is why can’t the President use the same powers and means to appoint people to assist him from the Districts.

Why can’t the president do consultations and with the help of security at the District level do background checks of prospective Candidates for appointment. After all what’s special about MMDCEs more than Regional Ministers.

The moment they are appointed everyone respect the choice of the President. It eight (8) months since the President resumed his second term and we are still waiting for substantive MMDCEs this is seriously affecting the smooth running of the Assemblies which is basis of our democracy and development.

By.
Hon Alex Kyeremeh
Former Dep. Education Minister.