Vote ‘No’ in MMDCEs referendum – Anyenini appeals

Legal practitioner, Samson Lardi Anyenini is canvassing against a ‘yes’ vote in the December 17 referendum which seeks to allow political party participation in local elections in the country.

According to him, allowing political parties in local elections will further compromise and deepen the political divisiveness in the country.

“Let’s not allow the entrenchment of this recklessness that has made the benefit of democracy elude us. What do we see in parliament? the impunity and the reckless that has not benefited us over the years. So let’s go and vote ‘no’ to show them that we have had enough of the unproductive system,” he argued while contributing on the Shaping the Nation show on Starr FM Monday.

The comment is in sharp contrast with the views of Ghana’s former electoral commission chairperson Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan who says a ‘yes’ victory will be beneficial to the state.

Dr. Afari Gyan, who was part of the consultative council which drafted the constitutional provision, which bars political party involvement in local polls, says the original intention for the law has been violated by political parties.

“The Idea was that people would consider district level election as community activity. You would want to offer your service to your community so you would offer yourself and be elected by the community.

” But The system was hijacked by the political parties, the problem is that by law they are not supposed to be involved but we all know that they are already involved,” he told sit-in host of Shaping the Nation Regina Bortey Monday.

He stressed: “The intention has been flouted over the years and we know political parties are so involved. so I welcome the impending change to allow political parties to take part in local election. I expect the ‘yes’ vote to win but ‘Yes’ vote is the first step, the changes that happen thereafter will be the critical part. If we go compose district assembly on the same way we compose our parliament, it will lead to a disaster at the local level. The only solution will be mixed number proportional system”.