The Ghana Association of Elected Assembly Members (GAAM) has suggested to all major stakeholders in Local Governance to initiate the needed constitutional amendment for the state to remunerate Assembly members.
At a press briefing after the inauguration of Savannah Regional Chapter of the Association on Monday, the Savannah Regional Executives said the role of the Assembly Members is equally crucial to other constitutionally elected positions, therefore, deserve to enjoy similar privileges.
The Public Relations Officer of Savannah Regional branch of GAAM Idrissu Abdul Rahman said “Assembly members are the pivot of participatory democracy at the grassroots level. We are the Lower arm of government we interact daily with our electorates and other elected members in Ghana. The role of Assembly members is as crucial as the role of Parliamentarians in Ghana but let us ask ourselves are Assembly members recognized in our constitution, do Assembly Members’ interest been kept in our national policies. We want a very necessary aspect of our constitution to be amended so that we will have proper care of Assembly members because we are in the people.”
“The work of the Parliamentarians is only at the top there but when we come to the grassroots you can bear with me that the work of the assemblymen is even more than the Parliamentarians”
The Regional Vice Chairman of the Association Sumani Thompson Abu said it is constitutionally discriminatory that persons elected through the dictates of the constitution -President and Members of Parliament are paid from the consolidated fund but Assembly Members equally elected through the ballot to also perform constitutional duties at the grassroots have been denied remuneration.
He said Assembly Members can receive remuneration and the time is now for all stakeholders to take that decision.
“Here in Ghana, three positions are elected for and these include the Presidency, the Member of Parliament and the Assembly Member. The Constitution caters to two of these three elected positions and these are the President and the MPs. Why is it that from the onset there is this deliberate discrimination against Assembly Members That he /she does not pay Salary from the Consolidated fund even though his or her position is an elected one and that compensation is based on the Assembly’s strength where a municipal or a metro Assembly can remunerate their Assembly members high than a district assembly.
“Our point is that there should be an amendment to the constitution so that one’s the position of assembly members is an elected one that position will equally be accorded the needed respect and recognition just as the President and MP.”
Visit Overlord of Dagbon Kingdom
Meanwhile, the King and Overlord of Dagbon Kingdom Ya-Na Abukari II have said, he is “following the ongoing debate as to whether Assembly Members should be paid or not, and also whether the office of the Assembly Member should be politicized.”
According to the King, he is still studying the implications of these propositions on the unity of the people and its possible developmental outcome, adding that, “I shall State the position of the Gbewaa Palace in due course.”
The Overlord of Dagbon stated this Sunday when the Interim National Executives of Ghana Association of Elected Assembly Members (GAAM) paid a Courtesy call on him at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi in the Northern Region.
The King adorned President of the Association with a special smock to appreciate their efforts.
The President of Ghana Association of Elected Assembly Members (GAAM), Charles Adu Asinor told the media that, the Chiefs are key partners and stakeholders in local governance; therefore, the association is galvanizing their support and blessings to have a formidable body that will exude a powerful and influential mouthpiece in local governance in the country.
He said the Executives of the Association have already visited the Flagbearer of opposition NDC President John Dramani Mahama, President of National House of Chiefs -Togbe Afede, Waste Management companies- Zoomlion, Jekora Ventures, National Chief Imam among others. It will climax the visit at the Office of the President to interact with H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
