President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government have pulled the plug on the December 17 referendum meant to decide on an amendment of Article 55 (3) of the Constitution. According to President Akufo-Addo, the referendum which is expected to repeal parts of the constitution to allow partisanship in district level elections has not got a “durable national consensus.”
“In these circumstances, I am convinced that it will not serve the public interest to go ahead with the holding of the public referendum on 17th December even though I believe a strong campaign for a yes vote would have succeeded. this is not the kind of atmosphere in which the repeal of an entrenched provision of the constitution should take place,” he said.
Speaking in a live address to the nation on Sunday, December 1, 2019, President Akufo-Addo disclosed that he had instructed the Minister of Local Government Hajia Halima Mahama to withdraw the amendment bill from Parliament.
“It is with deep regret that I have given instructions to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development … to abort the process and see to the withdraw of the Bills for the amendment of the constitutions both in respect of Article 243 (1) and Article 55 (3).”
