A Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Osei Bonsu Amoah, says it was the then Majority in Parliament which wanted a referendum before an amendment to the constitution for the election of MMDCEs.
He said deliberations on the election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) have been on the cards for quite some time now with the two major political parties in absolute agreement.
He told Abena Tabi on TV3’s The Key Points on Saturday, November 23 that the two parties agreed that the amendment should be effected.
But the Akuapem South MP said when deliberations on Article 24.3.1 to take away the powers of the president came up for amendment in Parliament in July, 2010, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members wanted a referendum first.
“Our friends on the Majority said we should go for a referendum,” he disclosed, mentioning the likes of Haruna Iddrisu, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed and Mahama Ayariga as arguing for a referendum.
It therefore comes as strange, he said, for their party to make a U-turn.
The NDC had called on its supporters to vote ‘No’ in the upcoming referendum after its National Executive Committee (NEC) decided as such.
Their publication engendered a public conversation as major stakeholders such as the National House of Chiefs also came out to support a ‘No’ vote.
OB Amoah said before the NDC came out publicly, albeit a U-turn, there seemed to be consensus on a ‘Yes’ vote.
“Seventy-five per cent or more was going for a Yes vote until the major opposition party came [out].”
He cited how the Catholic Bishops’ Conference had assured government of asking members of the Roman Catholic Church-Ghana to back a ‘Yes’ vote.
He observed that it appears the consensus has broken down and so the vice president, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has been tasked to collate ideas on the way forward.
“Monday, we will be meeting the TUC,” he indicated.
He said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be furnished with the outcome of the nationwide consultation led by Dr Bawumia for a conclusive decision to be taken.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana