Delay in MMDCEs appointment has halted development - Hon. Justice Anokye

The Assemblyman for Dekyemso and also a Convener for Justice and Security at the Assembly, Hon. Justice Anokye has expressed that infrastructural development in the Kumasi Metropolis has come to halt due to delay in the appointment of the Metropolitan, Municipal District Chief Executives (MMDCE).

He told Soireenews that the acting Chief Executives of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have limited controls over their territory especially with concerns raised by residents about their non-interest in the reappointment of others.

He has therefore called on the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to kindly speed up the appointments to help fulfil their four-year mandate towards the people.

“The Chief Executive and coordinating director are in charge of the overall administration of the Assembly,” he said.

“The coordinating director is the spending officer so unless the DCE signs and approves any spending in the assembly, nothing of that sort can happen. As we all know, all the MMDAs have no chief executive.

“They are just acting and as a result, there is a limitation. Some already know their fate and following series of concerns raised by inhabitants, some do not want to embark on any project.

“A lot of projects were ongoing in some assemblies which needs to continue but because MMDCEs are acting, there are limitations as compared to the a full resumption of works,” he said.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo on August 8, 2021 disclosed on Tamale-based Justice FM that he and his team are working at reaching a consensus with regards to the appointment eight months after he started his second term.

“It’s been quite an exhaustive process and we are trying to make sure as much as possible we arrive at some consensus about them,” the President said.

The President indicated that his original wish for the selection of MMDCEs was to vote them into power and not make it the sole preserve of the elected President but that could not be.

Hon. Justice Anokye told that although the decision of the President to involve the people in voting their own MMDCEs was not appreciated yet he believes the delay is not helping the Assemblies growth.

He applauded the President for the referendum but outlined its failure as a result of poor education. He has urged that if well-designed information about the necessity of the referendum is initiated, Ghanaians will welcome the idea and avoid putting the burden on the shoulders of the President.

“The public must be educated on the referendum on the necessity of the MMDAs election. People love it but the education to the masses was not properly scheduled. The arrangements must be proper and the grassroots must be educated. With this, I think we can get to choose our own leaders.”