President Akufo-Addo names 212 DCEs

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday named 212 persons to occupy the chief executive positions of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDCEs) across the country.

They are to be approved by the members of the assemblies.

The appointments were done in accordance with Article 243 (1) of the Constitution, which states, “There shall be a District Chief Executive for every District who shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the Assembly present and voting at the meeting.”

The MMDCEs’ appointments come weeks after the president had nominated the chief executives for the Accra, Tamale, Kumasi and Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assemblies and were unanimously approved by the assembly members.

Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, who announced the names at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, said the president, in exercising his responsibilities under Article 243(1), carried out extensive consultations at the district, regional and national levels.

She said the appointed MMDCEs are capable men and women with expertise, experience and temperament to head the assemblies and inspire a new era of rapid development in the country.

“It is expected that those who were shortlisted and vetted by the President’s Committee had high expectations that they would be appointed to serve the nation as Chief Executives of the Assemblies and be the chief representatives of the central government in their districts. But, it is obvious that only one person can serve in that capacity in every Assembly,” Madam Hajia Mahama said.

She expressed the president’s appreciation to all persons who showed keen interest in the exercise.

Agitations

However, there have been agitations in some parts of the country over the announcement.

Some irate supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Bawku West Constituency of the Upper East Region Tuesday evening reportedly vandalized their party office and some departmental offices in the Zebilla District over the appointment of Victoria Ayamba as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area.

At Elubo in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region, some youth were also on the heels of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, claiming that he deceived them after promising to ensure that their preferred candidate would be nominated.

Call For Solidarity

Hajia Mahama called for calm and asked party supporters to throw their weight behind the appointed MMDCEs to address the challenges that confront the nation.

“It is the wish of the president that those who were not named will appreciate that there are other positions they may be called upon to serve in the interest of the nation. This is time for solidarity and focus on overcoming the great challenges that confront our nation so we can build together the prosperous, thriving Ghana we all desire,” she underscored.

Electing MMDCEs

The minister said government would begin the process of amending the Constitution and putting in place the necessary measures to ensure the direct election of MMDCEs.

“It is the expectation of the president that this will be the last time MMDCEs will be appointed in this manner.

“The time has come for the expansion of local democracy to provide for their direction by the people of their districts. This was the pledge of the NPP manifesto,” she said.

Hajia Mahama said the president, henceforth, would have no hand in their appointments, stating that the power would be reserved for the people.

Below is the full list of the MMDCEs

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