‘Constitutional amendment on dissolution, re-election of Assemblies needed’

Greater Accra Association of Presiding Members have called for a consti­tutional amendment that will help to bridge the gap between times that Assemblies are dissolved and when new Assembly members are re-elected.

That, they noted, would not stall the progress and development of projects and programmes un­derway, but help to execute them successfully.

”Presiding Members who are going for re-election in their respective electoral areas should be supported and assisted during the campaign prior to the forthcoming Metropolitan, Municipal and Dis­trict Assembly elections and steps should also be taken to bridge the gap between the dates of disso­lution and inauguration of new Assemblies,” the members stated.

Joseph Korto, National Dean of Association of Presiding Mem­bers, made the call at the 2023 Greater Accra Presiding Members two-day conference in Accra which was on the theme: ‘Actualising En­vironmental Sanitation in Greater Accra- The Role of Presiding Members’, among other issues built the capacity of members on functions of Presiding Members and initiatives towards the prog­ress, growth and development of Assemblies.

According to him, Presiding Members who were going for re-election in their respective electoral areas should be supported and assisted during their campaigns prior to the upcoming Metropoli­tan, Municipal and District Assem­blies and steps should be taken to bridge the gap between the dates of dissolution and inauguration of new Assemblies.

Mr Korto stressed that a con­stitutional amendment would help bridge the gap between the dates of dissolution and inauguration of new Assemblies.

He lauded the regional minister for the “Operation clean your frontage” which had paved the way for other regions to under­take similar initiatives to improve sanitation saying “I doff my hat for the regional minister, presiding members of the region, metropol­itan, municipal and district chief executives and assembly members for their cooperation since the operation clean your frontage programme has come to stay and we as presiding members should continue to play our roles to actualise it”.

Mr Korto cautioned Assem­blies against unhealthy relation­ship between them, presiding members and the electorates going for re-election, they should show some respect and dignity to them especially the electorates.

Baba Seidu, Representative of the Regional Minister, encour­aged Presiding Members to con­tinue serving the country loyally, despite challenges the country was going through because they were core players of grassroots democracy as they presided over lawmaking and implementation at local levels and should be revered for their meaningful contribution towards progress, growth and development.

He commended the Greater Accra Assemblies for retaining most of their Assembly members and Presiding Members as con­tinuity could enhance progress, growth and development.