Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM), has appealed to parliament to amend Article 250, clause 2 of the 1992 constitution and section 11(2) of the local governance Act 2016, Act 936.
The first clause of the Article states that “The Emoluments of a District Chief Executive of a district assemble shall be determined by Parliament and shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund,” while clause 2 of the same Article states that “the emoluments of a presiding member of a district assembly and other members of the Assembly shall be determined by the District Assembly and paid out of the Assembly’s own resources”.
The Association wants parliament to amend the second portion of the law because most assemblies have no supporting resources that they can depend on to even pay sitting allowance, much more to talk of emoluments.
The Upper West Regional President of the Association, Ebenezer Nabiebakye, made this known at a news conference held at Wa in the Upper West Region.
The Association suggested that emoluments of presiding and assembly members should be charged on the consolidated fund to pave way for adequate remuneration.
GAAM also proposes for the establishment of an Electoral Area Development Fund for assembly members and this should be drawn from the district assembly common fund.
This, the UW President of GAAM believes when done will reduce the pressure on Assemblies and by extension members.
The Regional President of the Association, Ebenezer Nabiebakye, who is also the Assembly Member for Boo Electoral Area, was however unhappy that assembly members allow politics to destroy their core mandates.
Mr Nabiebakye called for provision of allowances as monthly stimulus which should be charged on the consolidated fund.
He reminded the local government ministry of the promise made to assembly members to create assembly members’ development fund.
This initiative he noted if implemented will not only save assembly members from using their own resources to finance community activities but will also ease the pressure on MPs and enhance rapid development at the local level.
Story filed by Dennis Bebane.