Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, former Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, has publicly questioned the fairness of the government’s proposed system for electing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). He argues that the new process could unfairly exclude individuals not affiliated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr. Korsah specifically criticised the arrangement where political authorities nominate five persons, from whom three are then shortlisted to contest the elections. He described this system as inconsistent with the principles of competitive and non-partisan local governance. This proposed model, he stated, risks shutting out qualified Ghanaians who do not share the political beliefs of the governing party.
This debate over MMDCE elections is central to Ghana's ongoing efforts to deepen decentralisation and local governance. Previous administrations have also grappled with finding a balance between central government control and local autonomy. The current system of appointing MMDCEs has long faced criticism for being overly politicised, hindering effective local development. Data from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) consistently shows public desire for more direct involvement in selecting local leaders.
In a Facebook post, Mr. Korsah stated, “How can it be called a competitive national election when it potentially excludes your political opponents?” He contended that an outright partisan sponsorship by political parties would at least guarantee opportunity for all sides of the political divide to participate. He believes the current proposal does not represent a significant departure from the existing appointment system.
The implications of this proposed electoral framework are significant for Ghana's democratic development and local administration. If implemented, it could perpetuate political patronage at the local level, potentially undermining the effectiveness of MMDCEs. Stakeholders and civil society groups will closely monitor the government's response to these concerns. The outcome will influence public trust in the decentralisation process and the perceived fairness of future local elections.
Mr. Korsah, who served under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, indicated that an NPP government would revisit the framework should the party return to power. He added that the next NPP government from 2029 would restore a true and proper concept of an election of MMDCEs. This suggests that the debate over MMDCE election modalities will likely continue to be a key political issue in the coming years.
The former minister maintained that allowing political authorities to nominate candidates before elections is fundamentally different from the independent local-level elections many stakeholders have long advocated. Ghanaians had hoped for a true and proper independent election without having to shortlist party-affiliated individuals. This ongoing discussion highlights the challenges in reforming Ghana's local governance structure to be more inclusive and representative.