President John Dramani Mahama has revoked the appointments of all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives across Ghana, a move that has stunned many and set the tone for his administration. The decision also nullifies the positions of appointed Assembly Members nationwide. Coordinating Directors of the affected assemblies have been directed to act as interim Chief Executives until new appointments are made.
The directive, signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, is said to be in line with the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936). The suddenness of the move has raised eyebrows, as it effectively leaves all metropolitan, Municipal and district Assemblies without substantive heads, sparking questions about how local governance and ongoing projects will be handled in the interim.
While the statement from the presidency frames this decision as part of a restructuring effort, no further details have been provided about the rationale or the timeline for appointing replacements. Political analysts are already describing this as one of the boldest moves by any Ghanaian president in recent history, signaling Mahama’s intent to firmly take control of local governance structures.
This announcement comes as a surprise, with some wondering about the potential disruption to development projects and essential services. With the directive still fresh, reactions from political actors, civil society, and the general public are anticipated to pour in as the nation digests the implications of this sweeping change.
As the country awaits more information, all eyes are now on President Mahama to see how this decision unfolds and what it means for the future of governance at the local level.
