CLGA calls for partisan district level elections

The Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) has called for the politicisation of District Level Elections (DLE) as part of efforts to deepen Ghana’s democracy.

Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Acting Executive Director for the Centre said “we can go partisan, since already the various political parties are behind the scene sponsoring their favourite candidates despite the law barring them”.

He observed that globally, the best democracies have strong local governance systems.

Dr Antwi-Danso made the remarks on Tuesday, in Accra, at a press conference to put duty bearers on their toes and whip public enthusiasm in the upcoming DLE, slated for March 3.

As the current law governing the conduct of the DLE bars its politicisation, Dr Antwi-Danso commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for the bold step it took to disqualify candidates who started campaigning on party lines.

He asked the EC not to rest but crack the whip harder on all such individuals and political parties who allow their colours to be used by such candidates.

He described a recent statement by the EC calling on civil society organizations (CSOs) not to support in the upcoming DLE as disturbing.

According to Dr Antwi-Danso, the EC must clarify and explain the extent to which CSOs could support or mount platforms for candidates.

“As the arrangements concerning the supporting of candidates by CSOs is not very clear to candidates, CSOs and development partners. They must streamline this process,” he stated.

He commended the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the National Media Commission, the National Commission on Civic Education, and the Board and Management of the Graphic Communications Group Limited for the diverse roles in whipping public interest towards the upcoming DLE.

Dr Antwi-Danso said the EC should deal with the growing politicisation of the campaign process and the candidature of persons putting themselves up for the elections.

“The CLGA repeats its call on government to declare March 3, as Local Government election holiday to allow staff of public and private sector institutions not only to participate in the voting but to also observe the procedure,” he stated.

“With the experience from the 2010 DLE, the CLGA is cautioning the EC in advance that it should put systems and processes in place to prevent unnecessary prolonging of the local government elections beyond the March 3, instead of what had become organizing it ‘tot by tot’,” he added.

Dr Antwi-Danso urged CSOs and traditional rulers to take part in whipping up enthusiasm of citizens in the upcoming DLE.

He said the District Information Officers seem to be missing from the sensitisation process though they were key stakeholders in the local democratic processes.

The Acting Executive Director called on the Ministry of Communication to give a firm directive and instructions to the District Information Officers to sensitise the populace and whip up participation in the upcoming DLE.