A new nationwide poll by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has revealed that most Ghanaians prefer Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to be elected, and on a non-partisan basis.
The survey, conducted between August 15 and 26, 2025, gathered responses from citizens aged 18 and above across all 16 regions.
According to the findings, 67.9 percent of Ghanaians want MMDCEs to be elected rather than appointed. Among those in favour of elections, 63.5 percent prefer that they be conducted without the involvement of political parties.
The report comes amid renewed debate on the matter, following President John Dramani Mahama’s call for non-partisan MMDCE elections, as outlined in the National Democratic Congress’s 2024 manifesto.
The poll also showed that 69.6 percent of respondents know how MMDCEs are currently selected, while 30.4 percent admitted they did not—an indication, the IEA said, of the need for stronger civic education.
The institute noted that the results reflect a growing public demand for local government reforms, adding that many Ghanaians appear not to fully trust political parties in the context of local elections.
In 2019, attempts to amend the Constitution to allow for partisan local elections and make the position of MMDCEs elective stalled due to lack of consensus. The IEA believes the latest findings could reignite calls to revisit that conversation.
Read the full IEA statement here
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