In Ghana's democratic system, the role of Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) is far from ceremonial, it is constitutional. These officials are crucial representatives of the President at the local level, responsible for the implementation of government policies, maintaining law and order, and presiding over District Security Councils. The position carries both authority and responsibility, underscoring the importance of adhering to the hierarchy of governance.
It is within this context that the recent actions of the Member of Parliament for Yapei/Kusawgu Constituency and Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Jinapor, have raised serious concerns. By bypassing the West Gonja Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and instead delegating the Central Gonja District Chief Executive (DCE) to hand over a donated power plant to the Damongo Nursing Training College. Hon. Jinapor made what might seem like a simple administrative decision, but in reality, it was a grave mistake—one that undermines institutional respect and local democratic order.
The West Gonja Municipal Chief Executive is not a passive observer in local governance. He is the eyes and ears of the President in the municipality. For a Minister to bypass him, particularly in an event taking place within his jurisdiction, sends a troubling message. That the authority of local government officials can be disregarded. This is not just a minor slip in protocol but an act that undermines the foundational principles of governance. In a democracy, where balance and structure are paramount, such a gesture is not only careless but potentially corrosive to the respect that the public should have for the system.
The symbolic weight of this act cannot be overstated. Damongo, as the regional capital of the Savannah Region and the historical nerve center of the area, carries both political and cultural significance. To assign a DCE from Central Gonja to perform an official duty in Damongo over the host MCE, undermines the stature of the municipality and disregards its importance within the region. This decision was more than just an administrative error; it was a symbolic diminishment of the municipality's position, signaling a lack of respect for the local authorities who serve as the first point of contact between the government and the people.
Understandably, this move has not been well received by some sections of the NDC youth in the Municipality. Many view it as an affront to the West Gonja MCE, one that unnecessarily provokes tension within the party’s stronghold. Politics, after all, is not just about policy; it is equally about perception. When high-ranking officials signal favoritism by overlooking one local authority in favor of another, it risks fracturing party unity, especially in a region where cohesion is vital for political success.
However, this issue goes beyond party politics. It strikes at the heart of Ghana's decentralization process, one of the pillars of our democracy. The principle of decentralization aims to bring governance closer to the people, ensuring that every MCE and DCE is respected within their jurisdiction. When boundaries are crossed and protocol flouted, it weakens the fabric of governance. It breeds confusion, reduces accountability, and diminishes the respect that citizens should have for their local leaders.
Such actions, though they may not always be met with public outcry, slowly chip away at public trust in our democratic institutions. Citizens observe, remember, and harbor dissatisfaction in silence. With each disregard for procedure, the message is reinforced: it is not the office that commands respect, but the individual who occupies it. As this perception takes hold, the moral authority of democratic processes begins to erode.
Hon. Jinapor's intentions were undoubtedly good. Donating a power plant to a health training institution is a commendable act of service. But good intentions alone do not define effective leadership. Governance is not only about what is done, but also about how it is done. Leadership requires sensitivity to the structures and processes that keep the system intact. The manner in which an action is carried out is just as important as the action itself.
What may have initially appeared to be a minor administrative misstep could, over time, become a recurring issue if left unchecked. Small oversights, when allowed to become habits, eventually set dangerous precedents. If we tolerate such breaches of protocol, we invite confusion and resentment where there should be unity. Democracy does not thrive merely on elections or laws, it thrives on respect for processes, hierarchy, and institutions that ensure checks and balances. When that respect falters, even the best of intentions lose their impact.
In public service, respect for structure is not a mere formality—it is a commitment to the integrity of the Republic itself. When leaders forget this, democracy starts to show the first signs of decay. It is often in the small things we overlook that great systems begin to fall.
By: J. P. Akunatu, a Political and Policy Observer.
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