Direct Election of District Chief Executives Mayors: A Tool for Effective Decentralization and Political Stability

Abstract

Several arguments have been advanced either in support for or against the current mode of appointment of District Chief Executives (DCEs) and mayors in Ghana by the president. While some have argued that the current mode of appointment ensures control over affairs at the grassroots by the central government, others have strongly kicked against it on the grounds that it does not comply with the tenets of democratic decentralization and therefore fails to give the masses the chance to adequately participate in the affairs of their locality. Political parties themselves in Ghana remain divided on the debate. While some have supported the call for direct election of DCEs and mayors by the people at the grassroots, others strongly feel the status quo must be maintained. This paper examines both arguments and provides various recommendations for the direct election of DCEs and mayors that address concerns from different quarters in a manner that ensures effective decentralization and political stability