In a major shakeup within local governance, President John Dramani Mahama has announced the immediate revocation of appointments for all Chief Executives of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDCEs) and appointed Assembly Members.
The decision, which takes effect immediately, was made under the provisions of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and the Local Governance (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Act 940).
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Affected Officials and Interim Measures
This directive impacts two key groups:
- Chief Executives of MMDAs: All appointed MMDCEs have been relieved of their duties and instructed to hand over to their respective Coordinating Directors.
- Appointed Assembly Members: Those appointed under the relevant sections of the Act have also had their appointments revoked.
To ensure continuity, Coordinating Directors in the affected Assemblies will temporarily assume the roles of acting Chief Executives until new appointments are made.
Speculations and Reactions
This unexpected move has sparked widespread debate and speculation. While the government has not provided a detailed explanation for the mass revocations, political observers suggest it may be part of a broader strategy to restructure local governance ahead of key national reforms.
Some Ghanaians see this as a decisive step to improve efficiency at the local level, while others have raised concerns about potential political motives behind the action.
Background
This is not the first time such a sweeping change has occurred in local governance. In 2024, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made similar changes to municipal and district assembly leadership. However, the timing and scale of President Mahama’s decision appear to have caught many by surprise.
As the Coordinating Directors step in to manage local assemblies temporarily, all eyes will be on the government for announcements regarding substantive appointments in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
