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 MMDCEs must be accountable to electorate —Panel

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Akwetey (right) and other panel members during discussion

 The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel O. Akwetey, has called for a shift in the way Municipal Metropolitan District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are selected, advocating for a system that em­powers the electorate, rather than leaving the appointment process solely in the hands of the President.

During a panel discussion at the 76th Annu­al New Year School Conference (ANYSC) at the University of Ghana, Legon, he stressed the importance of MMDCEs being more accountable to the people they serve than to the President.

“The issue of accountability is crucial. If you look at the current system, MMDCEs are appointed by the President. What has hap­pened is that MMDCEs feel more accountable to the President than to the electorate who have a say in their selection.”

Dr Akwetey argued that this lack of direct accountability to the electorate had led to sev­eral governance issues at the local government level, including a lack of respect for traditional leaders and impunity by some MMDCEs.

He pointed out that some of these leaders had demonstrated a lack of transparency in their work, which undermines public trust in the local government system. “They have run riot, there is impunity by some of the MMD­CEs. In terms of accountability, we have not been there,” he added.

The Executive Director also highlighted the failure of many MMDCEs to adequately engage with their communities and provide essential services.

“If you look at the process, they are simply supposed to explain the workings of their meetings and plans to the people. These things are not done. Assemblies are supposed to hear from the public, and there should be hearings on their plans, but these are not happening.”

“In terms of accountability and transparen­cy, the assemblies have not performed well,” Dr Akwetey explained.

He further noted that even basic services such as sanitation, which were essential for the well-being of local communities, had not been effectively promoted by the assemblies.

The lack of effective governance has led to many citizens distancing themselves from local assemblies, a problem Dr Akwetey believes could be resolved if MMDCEs were directly elected by the people.

“We need to bring the people back into the process,” he said, referring to the importance of restoring the electorate’s connection with their local government and empowering them to hold their leaders accountable.

Supporting the call for reforms, former dean of the University of Ghana Law School, Professor Kofi Quashiga, emphasised that any reforms to the local government system should align with the core values and princi­ples of the constitution.

“We all agree that there must be reforms. However, when crafting these reforms, we must interpret them holistically in line with the constitutional values,” he said.

The proposed reforms he said must serve to improve the inherent values of the constitu­tion, ensuring that people can fully participate in governance.

Local government expert, Professor Atsu Ayee, added his voice to the call for reform, stressing the need for MMDCEs to demon­strate their ability to be held accountable.

He argued that this would be a key step in strengthening local government and improv­ing its effectiveness in addressing the needs of the people.

According to him MMDCEs should be able to show that they can be held accountable.

This he said would trigger broader reforms in the civil service and local government system.

By introducing direct elections for MMD­CEs, he added that the government could strengthen local governance and improve service delivery, creating a system that truly serves the interests of the people.

In conclusion, the panellists agreed on the need for structural reforms to ensure that local government leaders, such as MMDCEs, were more accountable to the electorate.

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 Heritage Month Ghana trends

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Since the institution of the Heri­tage Month celebration in Ghana, it has offered citizens opportuni­ties of a lifetime to learn about their cultures and lifestyles.

Ghana’s version is observed in the month of March, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebra­tions on March 6.

Heritage Month features festivals, food fairs, arts, crafts, and music events to highlight the economic and social value of preserving national heritage.

Though a brainchild of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the celebra­tion has been driven to greater heights by local media with the organisation of several events to create the needed euphoria.

Among the events are the Heritage Caravan and Back To Your Village Food Bazaar pow­ered by Accra-based Citi FM and Citi TV, Wear Ghana Festival and the Gɔbɛ festival powered by 3News.

The Heritage Caravan is a road trip which takes patrons across more than half of Ghana’s regions to offer a distinctive road trip that allows participants to explore the various re­gions of Ghana, providing an up-close encounter with the country’s histori­cal and cultural heritage.

In addition to these roles played by the media, news anchors and other presenters appear on screens immac­ulately garbed in locally made outfits, bringing out the beauty of our tradi­tions.

Today, The Spectator news­paper selected a few of the media personalities that are working to give the cel­ebration a global dimension to project the country.  

 By Andrew Nortey

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 MoMo vendor 24 murdered at Kwadaso

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• Mobile money shop
• Mobile money shop

 A disturbing crime has shaken the Kwadaso Onion market communi­ty in Kumasi, leaving family and friends grieving the loss of a young life.

Identified only as Junior, a 24-year-old mobile money vendor, was found murdered in his room on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

According to eyewitnesses, Junior had returned home the previous day with a substantial amount of money, over Gh¢20,000.

It was suspected that the killers might have been motivated by the large sum of money in Junior’s posses­sion.

A police source that confirmed this to The Spectator, said investigation has been launched into Junior’s mur­der, but so far, no arrests have been made.

The Kwadaso community is reeling in shock, calling for justice and an end to the atrocity that has claimed the life of a young and promising individ­ual.

Junior, is believed to be a native of Ejisu Onwe, and was known to his col­leagues and friends as a hardworking and diligent individual who worked at the Kumasi Race Course.

His tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges mobile money vendors faced.

The incident comes barely a month after Patricia Nimako, a 27-year-old Mobile Money (MoMo) vendor, was shot and killed at Krofrom, Kumasi in the Ashanti region by an unknown assail­ants.

The suspected armed robbers fled with the deceased cell phones and an amount of GH¢10,000 on Thursday, February 13, at approximately 3:00 p.m.

The two armed robbers reportedly stormed the kiosk where the deceased was operating and without any provo­cation shot her dead.

There has not been any arrest yet by the police.

 From Kingsley E. Hope , Kumasi

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 Learn how to prepare local dishes…Queen mothers urge young women

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• Some local dishes

 In a heartwarming display of inter­generational wisdom, queen moth­ers from local communities in the Obuasi enclave shared their expertise on how to prepare local diets with young ladies on the International Women’s Day event, courtesy of An­gloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.

Beyond the fanfare, these revered women leaders took centre stage to impart a vital life skill: traditional cooking as they guided eager students and other young ladies through the art of preparing local delicacies.

In fact, the aroma of ‘Abunabunu’, ‘Aprapransa’, ‘Enuhu’, ‘Akaw’, ‘Tuo Zafi’ (TZ), among others, wafted through the air to the extent it could attract people from a distance, as the queen mothers entertained the young women with tales of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community building.

This year’s International Wom­en’s Day Celebration was under the theme: ‘Accelerate Action for Wom­en’s Equity.’

As the event drew to a close, the queen mothers gave words of wisdom upon their young guests.

From Nana Amoanima Dede, Queen mother of Adansi she stated that: “Never forget your roots, and always remember that the kitchen is not just a place for cooking, but for building connections and forging communi­ties.”

Nana Akua Dwum II, Queen moth­er of Edubiase, on her part urged the young ladies to learn how to prepare traditional dishes in order to preserve cultural heritage of the nation.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the mining company, Samuel Boakye Pobee, mentioned their readiness to roll out an “All-Women Apprentice­ship Programme, aimed at empow­ering young women in the Obuasi communities in entrepreneurship.”

He said the project would include women in basic technical skills and their capacity building to boost their employability to reshape perceptions of women’s roles in traditionally male-dominated industries.

According to the Managing Director, the mining company’s commitment “is to empower young people with specialised skills, and progressive knowledge to make them financially independent.”

The company, he indicated, was accelerating action towards wom­en’s equality at the Obuasi Mine and within host communities with the aim to build a foundation to create an inclusive and supportive business culture.

Mr Pobee expressed the need for innovative approaches and dedicated efforts to encourage and invest in women’s participation in all fields, including all levels of technical and operational areas and must be inten­tional and deliberate.”

 From Kingsley E. Hope, Obuasi

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