Put importance on referendum
A deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Nana Adjei-Boateng, has advised Ghanaians to value the December 17 referendum and turn up in their numbers to vote.
Addressing a town-hall meeting organised by the Birim Central Municipal Assembly on the December 17 referendum, he also called on participants to educate the electorate on the referendum.
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The meeting attracted people from all walks of life including politicians from both sides of the political divide, traditional rulers, teachers, security personnel, traders, farmers, fish mongers, drivers and all categories of students.
“Unlike the assembly and unit committee elections, successive Presidents and Members of Parliament (MPs) have been elected on partisan lines and it is time to change the trend, hence the upcoming referendum,” he said.
“Countries such as South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria which studied Ghana’s democratic process have been conducting district level elections on partisan lines, so the time has come for the nation to follow suit,” he emphasised.
Low turnout
Nana Adjei-Boateng noted that because district level elections were not conducted on partisan basis in the country, there was always low turnout.
He said the highest turnout recorded in local level elections in the country was 59 per cent.
He, therefore, urged politicians not only to encourage their members to participate in the upcoming referendum, but to also vote ‘Yes’ for an amendment of Article 55 (3) to allow partisanship to be introduced in local level elections.
Forum
In response to a question as to whether assembly members will be paid after the referendum, the deputy minister answered in the negative.
To another question of how students who will be in school can participate in the referendum, Nana Adjei Boateng said the government would take a decision on the situation “as voting is a civic responsibility.”
Vote ‘Yes’
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central, Ms Victoria Adu, also encouraged the participants not only to turn up on the election day, but to also vote ‘Yes’.
Among the dignitaries present at the meeting were the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr Douglas Annoful; the Municipal Electoral Officer, Mr Kofi Annan; the Oda Divisional Police Commander, ACP Mr F. S. Adikah; the Oda Municipal Police Commander, Chief Supt. Nana Kumi; the Safohene of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Nana Atta Akyea, and the Oda Zongo Chief, Alhaji Sulemana Adamu.