District Chief Executive

A District Chief Executive (DCE) is an appointed public servant who heads a district in Ghana. It is an official and nationally recognized position and is similar to that of a mayor of a city in other countries. The responsibilities and duties of a district chief executive are enshrined in the Constitution of Ghana. ^[1] There are 216 districts in Ghana with some being municipal and other metropolis. ^[2]

Article 213 – District Chief Executive

(1) There shall be a District Chief Executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the Assembly present and voting at the meeting.

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(2)The District Chief Executive shall:

• (a) preside at meetings of the Executive Committee of the Assembly;
• (b) be responsible for the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the District Assembly; and
• (c) be the chief representative of the Central Government in the district.

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(3) The office of District Chief Executive shall become vacant if:

• (a) a vote of no confidence, supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the District Assembly, is passed against him; or
• (b) he is removed from office by the President; or
• (c) he resigns or dies.

DCEs Role & Qualities

The person appointed District Chief Executive is:

• The Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Assembly.
• The 'manager' of the Assembly as a body corporate that can sue and be sued and that can own and dispose of property.
• The chief representative of the Central Government in the district.
• The Chairperson of the District Security Committee.
• The representative of Ministers of decentralized Departments in the districts.

Qualities of the District Chief Executive.

A person being considered for appointment as District Chief Executive should possess the following qualities:

• Be answerable and responsive to the needs of the people.
• Be competent in executing the policies and vision of the current President.
• Demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness in driving development at the local level.
• Be skilled at engaging and encouraging community members to actively take part in district governance and development initiatives.
• Have the ability to ensure the District Assembly operates smoothly and is well-managed. ^[3]

Criteria for the selection of candidates for appointment as District Chief Executives.

A person considered for the role of District Chief Executive should meet some or all of the following criteria:

• (a) Ideally, the candidate should hold at least a first degree.
• (b) The individual must have a strong connection to the district, such as:
  • Being a native of the district,
  • Having lived in the district for an extended period,
  • Being well-acquainted with the district's issues and challenges,
  • Or having a demonstrable association or identification with the district.
• (c) The candidate should, at minimum, be sympathetic to the ruling political party and support the current President’s political vision.
• (d) A background in development work or public service is essential.
• (e) The person should possess relevant work experience in either the public or private sector.
• (f) Management experience or skills are desirable.
• (g) A history of humanitarian efforts and advocacy for the underprivileged is important.
• (h) Female candidates should be prioritized to promote gender equality and affirmative action.

References

1. Web, Ghana. "Constitution of the Republic of Ghana CHAPTER TWENTY". ghanaweb.com. ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
2. "Regions – Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration" . Retrieved 2024-11-05.
3. "Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana". www.ghanadistricts.com. Retrieved 2025-07-20.