The Local Government Minister nominee, Ahmed Ibrahim, has expressed strong support for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
However, he firmly opposes conducting these elections on a partisan basis, advocating instead for a non-partisan approach to enhance their independence and effectiveness.
During his vetting by the Appointments Committee on Tuesday, January 21, Mr. Ibrahim emphasised the importance of depoliticising local government leadership.
“I agree that the election of MMDCEs is necessary, but I disagree that it should be on a partisan basis,” he stated.
In response to a question posed by Vincent Assafuah, an NPP MP for Old Tafo Constituency, Mr. Ibrahim acknowledged the long-standing disagreement between the current government and his party on the matter.
However, he believes that the time to hold elections for MMDCEs is now.
He argued that non-partisan elections would empower MMDCEs to operate free from political interference, enabling them to focus solely on meeting the developmental needs of their communities.
“Separating local governance from party politics will allow MMDCEs to prioritise local development over partisan considerations,” he added.
Mr. Ibrahim believes this approach would improve the effectiveness of local government administration, ensuring that leadership decisions are driven by community needs rather than political agendas.
He reiterated his conviction that such a system is critical for fostering genuine progress and development at the grassroots level.
