Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former Electoral Commissioner, has urged the government to criminalize the delay in releasing statutory allocations of common funds to local assemblies, emphasizing the detrimental impact on effective local governance.

Speaking at a public lecture organized by the One Ghana Movement and the University of Professional Studies, Accra, to mark Constitution Day, Dr. Afari-Gyan highlighted the discriminatory nature of delayed payments, particularly affecting elected members of assemblies who do not receive salaries promptly, hindering their work.

“We cannot achieve meaningful development without fundamental reforms in our local government system,” he remarked, expressing support for electing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives to enhance transparency and accountability.

Advocating for an end to political evasion, Dr. Afari-Gyan encouraged opening the election of Municipal Chief Executives to political participation from various parties, fostering a more inclusive governance system.

Asserting that Ghana's democracy is a continuous work in progress, he called for periodic evaluations to ensure the nation is on the right path.

Dr. Afari-Gyan addressed the issue of corruption, emphasizing its detrimental impact on the country's prosperity, especially within the public sector, calling for urgent attention.

He echoed the need for constitutional amendments and stressed the significance of separating powers between the executive and the legislature to prevent the abuse of authority.

Dr. Afari-Gyan advised the Council of State to issue periodic reports to the public, disclosing the advice given to various institutions.