Hon. Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, a Council of State Member representing the Ashanti region, has appealed to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership and President John Dramani Mahama regarding the delay in appointing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) for the region.
He emphasized that this delay is significantly impacting the operations of local governance structures in the area.
Due to the absence of appointed MMDCEs, he stated, the General Assemblies of various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are unable to convene, hindering their ability to create policies and by-laws that ultimately affect the residents.
In response to a question from kingdomnewsgh.com about the implications of the delayed MMDCE appointments on local governance and development, Hon. Obimpeh, a former Ashanti Regional Chairman, explained, “The Honourable Assembly Members are unable to execute their legislative functions properly, and the sub-committees and general assemblies cannot meet to conduct assembly business.”
While sources close to the governing NDC party have stated that the appointment process for MMDCEs is ongoing, no official announcements have been made yet.
This situation has led to anxiety and speculation among stakeholders, including local government officials, traditional leaders, and residents in the 42 MMDAs across the Ashanti Region.
Some loyalists of the ruling party have already undergone interviews in various regional capitals and are waiting for their appointments. However, other supporters of the NDC have expressed concerns about the delay, arguing that it negatively affects the operations of the assemblies.
Mr. Yaw Owusu Obimpeh pointed out that the prolonged delay has resulted in the absence of MMDCEs, who serve as chairpersons of the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Security Committees.
Their lack of presence hampers effective coordination among security agencies, as there is no individual in place with the necessary authority to manage these efforts.
Furthermore, he noted that the absence of MMDCEs could impede the renewal of contracts that may have expired or require termination due to non-performance.
