A Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Samuel Asare Akuamoah, has appealed to the media to orient the public on the purpose of the upcoming referendum slated for December 17, 2019.
According to him, the media should dispel the notion that the referendum is for the purposes of amending the constitution.
That is not so. The purpose of the exercise, he said, is to pave way for the election of Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
He said the amendment of Article 55 (3), which is an entrenched provision, seeks to introduce multi- partisanship into local government elections.
This is he said is different article 243(1), which are provisions for the purposes of amending the constitution.
Mr Akuamoah made the call during the Volta Regional launch of the District Level Elections in Ho on October 1, 2019.
“For the referendum to take effect, the law requires that 40 per cent of registered voters must turn out and not less than 75 per cent “yes” vote is required to enable the referendum to take effect” he stated.
The Chairman expressed worry over the “unimpressive” average turnout of 35 per cent recorded during District Level Elections and appealed to electorates to understand that participation by all in respect to all elections and in particular in amending entrenched provisions in the 1992 Constitution is are important assignments.
He added that when that is done and the requirements by the law are met, political parties would be free to campaign, support, finance and sponsor candidates to the District Assemblies in subsequent elections.
“The campaign, therefore, seeks to mobilise at least 40 per cent of the delegates to come out and vote”, he added.
Mr Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, the Volta Regional Deputy Director of the Electoral Commission, emphasised the need for maximum participation by all registered voters.
He informed the gathering that they are ready to hold the referendum to enable the amendment of the law.
Mr Kenneth Kponor, Volta Regional Director of the NCCE, also laid emphasis on the importance of the exercise, adding that it is a requirement by the law hence the need for the citizenry to participate fully.