HGP Nightly News – Region Ten Member of Parliament Dr. Ryan Richards is raising concern over what he describes as a deepening governance crisis in Region Ten, after the Regional Administration reportedly began consultations for the 2027 Regional Budget while the election of the new Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman remains incomplete.
In a statement, Richards said the Regional Executive Officer has still not reconvened the statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council to complete the election of the council’s leadership.
He said the situation has now reached a troubling stage because the administration is reportedly moving ahead with budget consultations without the full participation, guidance or oversight of the elected Regional Democratic Council.
According to Richards, all 18 councillors of the 10th Regional Democratic Council were elected by the people of Region Ten and sworn into office following the 2025 Regional Elections. However, he said they are now being excluded from a process that directly affects the region’s development priorities.
The MP argued that the RDC is not a ceremonial body, but the elected local democratic organ legally responsible for representing residents at the regional level.
He said councillors are expected to help identify community needs, examine expenditure proposals, participate in policy discussions and ensure that public resources are allocated in keeping with the interests of residents.
Richards said excluding the elected councillors from the budgetary process undermines representative democracy and weakens public accountability.
He also raised concern over reports that the Chairman of the 9th Regional Democratic Council is still carrying out functions despite the swearing-in of the new councillors.
According to Richards, once a new council is sworn in, democratic legitimacy shifts to that body.
He said any continued exercise of authority by officials linked to the previous council raises concerns about accountability, representation and respect for the Local Democratic Organs framework.
The MP said reports that the former chairman is inviting stakeholders to submit proposals for the 2027 Regional Budget create further confusion over who has the authority to act on behalf of the region.
He warned that such actions risk undermining public confidence in regional government and create the appearance that elected representatives are being pushed aside.
Richards said the governance vacuum also has practical consequences.
Without a Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman, he said statutory committees cannot be properly constituted, including the Regional Disaster Preparedness Committee. He said this is particularly worrying as flooding continues to affect residents and communities across Region Ten.
He also warned that the elected council cannot properly exercise oversight over the Regional Administration, while programmes and projects may move forward without the level of scrutiny required by law.
Richards said the absence of a fully functioning council could also affect the integrity of procurement and tender processes, since elected councillors are unable to perform their lawful role in recommending representatives to the Regional Tender Board.
He argued that this weakens transparency and public confidence in the management of regional funds.
“At its core, this matter is not about political parties,” Richards said, arguing that the issue concerns the right of Region Ten residents to be governed through democratic institutions that operate according to law.
He said the people voted, councillors were elected, and those councillors have been sworn in.
Richards is now calling on the relevant authorities to urgently reconvene the RDC meeting so that the election of the Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman can be completed in keeping with the Local Democratic Organs Act.
He said the rule of law must take precedence over administrative convenience, and that Region Ten residents should not be denied the full benefit of democratic governance.
