District Chief Executive


A District Chief Executive 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. There are 216 districts in Ghana with some being municipal and other metropolis.

Article 213 – District Chief Executive

' 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.
----' The District Chief Executive shall:' preside at meetings of the Executive Committee of the Assembly;
----' The office of District Chief Executive shall become vacant if:' 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
  • ' he is removed from office by the President; or 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.

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:' Ideally, the candidate should hold at least a first degree.
  • ' 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.' The candidate should, at minimum, be sympathetic to the ruling political party and support the current President’s political vision.
  • ' A background in development work or public service is essential.' The person should possess relevant work experience in either the public or private sector.
  • ' Management experience or skills are desirable.' A history of humanitarian efforts and advocacy for the underprivileged is important.
  • ' Female candidates should be prioritized to promote gender equality and affirmative action.