CSOs calls by–elections for Assembly Members

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have said there was the need for the Electoral Commission (EC) to also conduct by-elections in electoral areas for district and metropolitan assemblies who have lost some members.

They said just as by-elections are conducted in constituencies who have lost their members of parliament, it is equally important to conduct such by-elections in electoral areas when the need arises.

The CSOs made the suggestion at a forum in Bolgatanga to disseminate findings of assessment of the functionality of District sub structures in the Upper East Region sponsored by Ibis Ghana.

They noted that never in the history of Ghana had the EC conducted any by-election for the District Assemblies and assembly members who passed on were never replaced.

The CSOs appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to ensure that all District Assemblies contact the EC to conduct by-elections in electoral areas when there is vacancy in assemblies.

They appealed to the government to stop interfering with the development plans of the district and metropolitan assemblies because such interferences weaken the decentralization concept.

The research also revealed that most Assembly members failed to meet their constituents before and after the Assembly sittings as they feared they would be asked to provide refreshment.

Mr Issahaku Bukari, Programmes Manager of Community Development and Advocacy Centre (CODAC), said Ghana had the best decentralization concept in Africa yet it had failed to implement it properly and countries that had come to learn from Ghana were excelling very well.