By
Francis Ameyibor, GNA
Tema, Nov. 14, GNA –
“Do you want political parties to participate in District Level Elections: Yes
or No,” Ms Josephine Nkrumah, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic
Education said that’s all the December 17 Referendum is about.
The NCCE Chairperson
told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Tema on Tuesday that, the
December 17 Referendum was only to determine whether we want political parties
to participate in district level governance or not.
Ms Nkrumah explained
that; “the Referendum is only about Ghanaians voting either YES to allow
political parties to participate in District Level Elections or NO to let the
status quo prevail where political parties do not participate in district level
elections”.
She said December 17
Referendum is to enable citizens to vote on the proposed amendment of Article
55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution that currently bars political parties from
participating in District Level Elections (DLEs).
Article 55 (3)
states that: “…Subject to the provisions of this Article, a political party is
free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate
information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national
character, and sponsor candidates for elections to any public office other than
to District Assemblies or lower local government units”.
She explained that
this is an entrenched provision which can only be amended through a Referendum
which per Article 290(4) can be approved when at least 40 per cent of persons
entitled to vote, vote at the referendum and at least 75 per cent of the
persons who vote cast their votes in favour of passing the bill.
The NCCE Chairperson
noted that on December 17, every electorate was required to undertake three
basic steps when he or she entered the polling stations to vote: first the
electorate was expected to vote for at most five candidates as Unit Committee
members and secondly again vote for one candidate as Assembly Member.
The third activity
before one leaves the polling station was to vote either Yes for or No for the
Referendum, “these are the basic things to do on December 17, in conformity
with all electoral laws of the country”.
Ms Nkrumah noted
that the amendment to the 1992 Constitution to allow the electorate to elect
Metropolitan, Municipal, or District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) was currently
before Parliament and as soon as it was done, “we will then elect our MMDCEs”.
GNA
