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Why District Level Elections Are Critical To Ghana’s Democracy

NEWS COMMENTARY ON WHY DISTRICT LEVEL ELECTIONS ARE CRITICAL TO GHANA’S DEMOCRACY AND THE IMPORTANCE EVERY ELIGIBLE GHANAIAN SHOULD PUT IN AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2023 LOCAL LEVEL DECISION MAKING.

BY: REBECCA EKPE, A JOURNALIST

The Electoral Commission of Ghana’s Statistics show that in 1988/1989, the National Average Voter Turnout at the District Level Elections was 59.3 percent. In 1994, it was 29.3 percent. Similarly, in 1998, the turn out got to 41.6 percent , while in the year 2002, only 33.1 percent turned out, just to mention a few. It is important however to note, that in the last District Assemblies and Unit Committee Elections in 2019, there was 33 percent turnout of eligible electorates, averaging about 30 percent voter turnout over the years. A critical observation indicates decline in turn outs over the years, probably due to low interest in the exercise.

Some explanations or views ascribed by many to the low voter turnout are no knowledge and appreciation of the local governance system and its usefulness or relevance to democratic governance, as well as limited information on the local governance process. This time round, in the 2023 District Level Elections, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, is optimistic that the apathy narrative will change for the better. In effect, the Local Government Minister has been engaging stakeholders at all levels of the development value chain, to drum home the message that all eligible Ghanaians must turn out at their electoral areas to vote for their preferred candidates. Mr Botwe, emphasized the pivotal role of these elections, stating, that District-level election is the bedrock of any democracy” and called for massive turnout.

Yes, District Level Unit Committee Elections are about people getting closer to the government and governance more closer to the people. That is why it must be seen as very important and critical to the government-citizen relationships. As a citizen, how can one ensure or influence the District Assembly’s Common Fund is properly utilised? How about developmental projects in the communities or the electoral areas? One can help out, be and feel involved, by participating in the selection process, thereby voting for the right persons, who can truly represent and communicate happenings at the Assembly, as well as ensure that those voted for make accountability their watch word and do the same to the people.
How do you hold the government accountable at the very base of development? Chapter six of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, under the Directive Principles of State Policy, enjoins the State to ‘’make democracy a reality, by decentralizing the administrative and financial machinery of government to the regions and districts and by affording all possible opportunities to the people, to participate in decision-making at every level in national life and in government.’’ Clearly, the people have a mandate and that is, to hold the government accountable.

Accountability at all levels and in governance, like the bottom-up approach, should begin at the local level. That makes the District Assembly and Unit Committee Elections fundamental to the very essence of governance in the country. In essence, the issues of Education, Health and Sanitation, among others, provide the people an opportunity to make an input and have a say. Location, type, cost and other details are important to citizens, as they can make inputs and feel part of the governance and decision making progress. This can be done, through the mandatory engagements with the Representatives at the District, Municipal and Metropolitan level of governance.

It is important that we ought to get the Local Assembly Elections right first, before the General Elections. The 2023 District Level Elections will no doubt set the tone for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections and further Consolidate Ghana’s Democratic gains.

These are tangible reasons every eligible Ghanaian ought to be interested in the process, to bring pressure upon the central government to ensure that development is brought to the door steps of the people, through the Assemblies. But first of all, we must all ‘’get involved,’’ to ensure that committed , dedicated, honest, true “honourables” with integrity are elected to engender the requisite developmental agenda for Ghanaians. Get involved. Your vote and voice are your power!