A new nationwide survey conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has revealed strong public backing for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), with a majority of respondents favouring a non-partisan approach.
The poll, carried out between August 15 and 26, 2025, across all 16 regions, found that sixty-seven-point nine percent of Ghanaians preferred MMDCEs to be elected rather than appointed. Of those who supported elections, sixty-three-point five per cent advocated non-partisan polls, reflecting growing public concern about political party interference in local governance. A previous attempt to amend Articles 55(3) and 243(1) of the Constitution in 2019, which would have allowed partisan local elections, was abandoned due to lack of consensus.
The IEA survey further revealed that sixty-nine-point six percent of respondents are aware of the current selection process for MMDCEs, which is dominated by presidential appointments.
