Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the former Electoral Commissioner, urges the government to criminalize delays in releasing statutory allocations to local assemblies, citing adverse effects on effective local governance.
Speaking at a public lecture organized by the One Ghana Movement and the University of Professional Studies, Accra, on Constitution Day, Dr. Afari-Gyan criticizes the discriminatory practice of withholding salaries from elected Assembly members and emphasizes the need for fundamental reforms in the local government system to achieve meaningful development.
“We cannot achieve meaningful development without fundamental reforms in our local government system,” he said.
He supports the election of metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives for transparency and accountability, advocating for increased political participation in governance. Dr Afari-Gyan calls for continuous evaluation of Ghana’s democracy and addresses the urgency of combating corruption in the public sector.
“We need to stop playing the ostrich and open the election of the Municipal Chief Executive to political participation, bringing more political parties into the governance system,” he said.
He endorses constitutional amendments to ensure the separation of powers and advises the Council of State to issue periodic reports on advice given to institutions.
