Local government expert and former MCE, Andrew Bediako, has cautioned political parties against interfering in Ghana’s decentralisation system, insisting that the Constitution clearly bars partisan politics at the local government level.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on January 2, 2026, Mr Bediako referenced Articles 50 to 53 of the 1992 Constitution, which provide that political parties should not play any role in district-level elections, particularly in the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDA) members.
According to him, the Constitution intends to ensure that local governance remains people-centered and development-focused, rather than being driven by party interests.
However, he noted that in practice, Ghana continues to “lie to itself” as political parties, especially the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), openly interfere in Assembly elections.
He observed that the two major parties often organise internal primaries at the electoral area level to select preferred candidates to contest as Assembly members, even though these elections are supposed to be non-partisan.
Mr. Bediako acknowledged that Ghana has made significant progress in its decentralisation journey, stressing that the system has empowered local communities and brought development closer to the people.
He said decentralisation has improved local participation and given residents a stronger voice in decision-making at the grassroots level.
Touching on the ongoing national debate about the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Mr Bediako said the conversation should go beyond whether the process is partisan or non-partisan. Instead, he argued that the focus should be on accountability to the local people.
According to him, whether an MMDCE is elected on a partisan or non-partisan basis, what truly matters is that the individual remains answerable to the people they serve. He explained that such accountability is what ultimately drives development at the local level.
Mr. Bediako further argued that having an MMDCE who does not belong to the ruling government does not necessarily hinder development.
On the contrary, he said, “it can make the individual more responsible and performance-oriented.”
He explained that every political actor understands that good performance earns public trust, which in turn increases the chances of being retained or re-elected.
“If you perform well, the people will continue to have faith in you and give you another mandate,” he noted, adding that this reality compels local government leaders to work efficiently and effectively, regardless of their political background.
He therefore disagreed with claims that MMDCEs who are not aligned with the central government would perform poorly, stressing that effective leadership at the local level is more about how leaders relate to the people and respond to their needs than about party affiliation.
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