President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO has called off the upcoming Dec 17 referendum. The President made this pronouncement when he delivered a televised broadcast to the nation on Sunday evening.
Ghanaians were scheduled to go to the polls on Dec 17, 2019, for a referendum on proposed amendments to the constitution.
In his 8 minute address to the address to the nation, the president disclosed that the current atmosphere was not proper for the referendum to go ahead, after the NDC pulled the plug on building consensus for a critical review of the constitution.
He disclosed that, emanating from the his 2016 campaign, he sought broad national consensus including a much publicized meeting of former presidents, engaging parliament and key stakeholders, from which he came by with the view of a consensus.
He said it was critical for him to garner, a clear national consensus that, an article of the constitution was not working.
President Akufo-Addo swat aside claims that the introduction of partisan politics is divisive for Ghana, a view, he said he holds a contrary belief in.
He said regrettably, the NDC made a U-turn after an initial accord, deciding to wage a no vote campaign, and without a broad consensus, he had to call off the referendum.
He stated that he does not believe the atmosphere is proper for the repeal of an entrenched clause in the constitution.
President Akufo-Addo assured all that, his government will continue to engage with Ghanaians to work for broad national consensus for a possible return of the referendum.
The proposed amendments to the constitution would allow for the direct election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and allow political parties to be involved in local elections.
It would also seek to allow political parties sponsor candidates for the district’s chief executives, assembly members and unit committee members.
