Referendum: Let's not allow people with different disdain hoodwink the Country - Dan Botwe

Member of Parliament for Okere constituency and Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development, Dan Botwe has expressed worry about the "bastardization of multi-party democracy".

According to him, the over politicization of the referendum is worrying.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' program, he explained that though his position might be different for the referendum, he still believes that multi-party democracy is the way to go for any developing country.

"Let's not allow people who have different disdain towards multiparty democracy to hoodwink the country," he said.

He said if he were President Akufo-Addo he wouldn't give the power of his party members to other party members for now to elect Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and unit committee members.

" . . My views are known . . . the issue is that we are having a President who believes so much in democracy and multi party democracy . . . he has the power to appoint people who are 100 percent loyal to him in all the 260 administrative units in Ghana . . . can you imagine if it is not a further deepening of democracy by somebody who believes so much in democracy, what else can that be? " he emphasized.

The Okere Legislator further argued that the problems of multi-party democracy should not be presented as a justification to stifle democracy. There have been calls by groups and individuals including the National House of Chiefs and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who are canvassing for a 'NO' vote on the upcoming referendum to maintain Article 55(3) of the 1992 election.

Members of the National House of Chiefs are also divided over their position on the exercise. While the President of the House of Chiefs says they support a ‘No' vote, some key members of the body have openly broken ranks with their leader.

Meanwhile, the main opposition NDC is canvassing for a ‘No' vote while the President and his ruling party have declared support for the opposite.

The NDC contends introducing political parties into local level elections will further deepen the partisan politics in communities.

Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution, which is an entrenched provision, states that “Subject to the provisions of this Article, a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programs of a national character; and sponsor candidates for election to any public office other than the district assemblies or lower local government units”.