democracywatch (20] 2nd qtr 2005 final.p65

grassroots opposition to the M/DCE nominations received Article 249 is clear that, as to the appointed members of the open support of members of the district assembly the assembly, the President, as the appointing authority, appointed by the President pursuant to article 242(c) of may revoke their appointments. [...] Such a “meritocratic” rationale for granting the accountability at the district would be President power to appoint one-third of the members of a severely compromised if the votes of the district assembly (“in consultation with the traditional appointed members of the Assembly were authorities and other interest groups in the district”) is deemed pre-committed to the inconsistent with the view tha. [...] The with organized supporters and opponents of M/DCE Assembly’s role in the structure of accountability at the nominees trading insults and threats of reprisal in the district would be severely compromised if the votes of the immediate vicinity of the assembly halls, marred the integrity appointed members of the Assembly were deemed pre- of the assembly’s approval process in the affected districts. [...] The Government’s decision to revoke the appointments of the President’s appointees to the district assemblies who “ If appointed members of the Assembly would not vote to approve a particular M/DCE nominee are to add value to the quality of raises questions about the role that Presidential district- decision-making and oversight at the assembly appointees are expected to play in the affairs of dis. [...] Even the decision demanding accountability from Ministers for the use of as to who would be Speaker of the House, a decision that public funds allocated to them for “poverty reduction.” MP the Constitution places in the hands of the MPs, is made Appiah-Ofori is, however, more widely known to the by the President and merely communicated to the House Ghanaian public as the MP who filed a petition be.