The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Divine Otoo Agorhom, has called for a more grassroots- led approach to selecting Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). His proposal, made during an interview on Channel One Newsroom, aims to address the growing tensions surrounding MMDCE appointments, particularly following public protests by supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in various districts where some nominations have been rejected.
Agorhom emphasized the importance of involving party structures at the constituency level before forwarding any nominations to the President. According to him, engaging local party structures in the selection process ensures that appointees are well- known within their communities, thereby increasing their acceptance. He argued that this approach would help reduce political tension, as the nominees would have the endorsement of the constituency, which would then be reviewed by the regional and national committees before being presented to the President for final approval.
“We should get the applicants to first go to the constituency so that the party endorses them because it is the party that produces the government,” Agorhom explained. “Then the constituency party looks at it and says yes, we know this person, and he has lived well with us. We think that, knowing him and his contributions in this space, this person will be able to meet the political expectations of the people.”
Agorhom further advocated for structural reforms that would allow MMDCEs to be elected rather than appointed. He suggested that such a change could bring long- term benefits, offering a more democratic process for selecting local leaders. Until that time, however, he believes the current process should be improved with grassroots involvement to ensure better outcomes.
This call comes amid increasing frustration within various political circles regarding the MMDCE appointment process. In several districts, NDC supporters have publicly rejected certain nominees, leading to protests. Agorhom' s proposal seeks to ensure a more inclusive and transparent process, which he believes would foster unity within the party and mitigate tensions related to MMDCE appointments.
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