According to him, MPs who become Regional Ministers are rendered ineffective in either one or both functions due to geographical constraints.
Making a presentation at a review forum on local government system and decentralization at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in Accra, Professor Ahwoi said, he does not believe in making his proposal a law, instead he wants all Presidents to carefully consider his suggestion in the interest of sustained development.
“My recommendation that MPs should not be appointed Regional Ministers, I would leave it at the level of an advice for now but MPs who come from very far, you will realise that clearly their people are derived of their participation in parliament when they become Regional Ministers”.
Mr Ahwoi also added that he does agree with the proposals that DCEs and MCES must be voted for during elections instead of being appointed by the President which is the currently the case.
“I have no doubt in my mind that if you put the matter to a referendum today, Ghanaians will say that we should elect. Just as if you put it the referendum Ghanaians would say that we should elect Ministers. We love elections; we have found that there is power in the thumb. Ghanaians would like every position to be made elective.I have always said that the popular position is the election of DCEs but the popular position is not always the correct position”.
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