Yendi,(NR), Nov 6, GNA - The Yendi Municipal Assembly has held its special town hall meeting on the upcoming District level Elections and referendum at the Municipal Assembly Community Centre.
More than 192 participants made up of Traditional authorities, security agencies, Heads of Department, representatives of political parties, hairdressers association, students, traders, youth groups among others.
Alhaji Hammed Abubakari Yussuf the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive said during the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary election, NPP promised organizing a referendum to amend clause 3 of Article 55 to allow political parties to endorse assembly candidates who participate in the District level elections in Ghana.
He said the party also promised that parliament would pass Article 243 (1) for election of Metropolitan, Municipal District chief Executives to be elected.
He therefore called on the people to vote yes which is yellow on the ballot paper for them to amend clause 3 of Article 55 to allow political parties to participate in district level election in the country.
He said whether MMDCES were in opposition or ruling Government they were not dealing directly with the President, but rather through the Regional Ministers and their sector Ministry of Local Rural Development for all their request.
Alhaji Sulemana Iddrisu Alhassan, the Yendi Municipal NCCE Director in his presentation on purpose of referendum exercise on December 17, 2019 indicated that local government election did not allow political parties to endorse, sponsor and offer a platform to or in any way campaign for or organize a candidate seeking election to a District Assembly or any local government unit.
He said article 55(3) states that “subject to the provision of the article, a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, the disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes or a national charter and sponsor candidates for election to any public office. Other than District Assemblies”.
He announced that the official colour assigned by Electoral Commission for the referendum was Yellow for YES and Dark brown for NO.
He said when the referendum goes through, it will deepen democracy in Ghana as all election will be partisan.
He reminded them that Article55(3) for the referendum is different from Article 243(1) for the election of MMDCES as such they should educate their people on the referendum on District Assembly and Unit-Committee elections and leave Article 243(1) to the parliament to pass so that after they will think of what happens next.
GNA
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