The Country's Constitution under article 240, gave birth to the administration of the Local Government System and to facilitate it decentralisation. At the time of writing this piece, the actual voter turn-out is unknown but is perceived to be low. Over the years, popular participation in the District Assembly election has been very low for reasons not difficult to fathom.
In our part of Accra where political agitations are heavily pronounced, the situation demands a lot of resources. It is not uncommon for voters to ask for monies, T-shirts and other incentives from aspirants who are seeking their mandates to represent them.
Virtually every candidates had to give out T-shirts to people whose votes he/she earnestly seek. Our part of Accra ( Ashed Keteke), street procession and it attendants hiring of jama groups forms an integral part of campaigns where the candidates are carried shoulder high, white handkerchief in hand and paraded through the streets in the area where he/she is contesting. It is a time where the jama groups and sellers of alcoholic beverages make their sales because the boys must eat and drink.
Every public platform to assess the candidates ends chaotically in a fight . Insinuations and innuendos have characterised the elections in the area since Adam. Over the years politicians have taken advantage of the gullibility of the masses to frame stories to discredit people.
Unprintable words are said about people, to the extent that families have broken down, marriages are dissolved and perpetual enmity is created. A more serious approach than we have now, is needed to solve this problem. Lest i forget, among the indigenous Chorkor, La, Osu, Teshie, Nungua & Tema, these tendencies are practical without shame. Even though this is not the subject of this write up, it worth mentioning to us the background to the political history of the people.
During Assembly Elections (including the last one), there are clear political manipulations in the selection and sponsorship of candidates; It is a known fact in our area ( where i come from), some candidates are selected at the party congresses even though it is not partisan. In some instances party executives vet applicants and they are presented to cells to be voted for. The guilty ones are the NPP and the NDC especially in Accra. The question is why do political parties get involved in this situations?
The Constitutional Provision Act 242 is stated, inter alia "The District Assembly shall consist of the following members
(a) One person from each local government electoral area with the district elected by Universal Suffrage.
(b) Other members not being more than 30% of all members of the DA appointed by the President in consultation with the traditional authorities and other interest groups in the district.
Clearly this last group, are obviously members of the ruling government. The reasons are not far fetched.
The appointment and approval of a DCE/MCE is by election where he must obtain at least two -thirds majority of the assembly present and voting. Thus this last group have the cushioning effect because they have to vote to ensure that government programmes are carried out. Therefore in Accra, for example (AMA). Government must appoint about 20 people to supplement the number of elected members.
The difficulty is that (as in the case of AMA), there are 36 perceived members of the new Assembly who have political leaning towards the NPP. Granted that these elected men and women will all vote for a Metro Chief Executive, plus the 20 appointed, the appointed mayor will have only 64%, 3% short of the mandatory 67% . The calculation have provided another headache for the parties to subtly hide behind party activists advertising these elections.
This is my perception as a native of the Ga Mashie area, i have shared my thoughts, i am not debating or challenging yet i guess it will serve as a very good article for dicsussion.
Lest i forget and also a note of caution,at long last our chief has been buried,the problem of succession, court injunctions rages on. Our MPs past and present must be cautious in their utterances not to inflame unnecessary passions.
Awoshie - Accra
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