‘Resource assembly members to accelerate devt agenda’

Municipal and district chief executives have urged the government to resource assembly members to accelerate the development of their respective areas due to the unique role they play in the decentralisation process.

However, they asked the assembly members not to relent in their efforts since the government recognised their efforts to fast-track development in their communities since their work was quite difficult hence needed more logistics in future to discharge their mandate efficiently and effectively.
 
The chief executives noted that assembly members were the first point of call for people at the grassroots and needed regular financial support to promote rapid community development.

They, however, cautioned that the assembly member position was gradually becoming unattractive because there was no monthly allowance attached to it and said when they were empowered financially, they could do more to take local governance closer to the people.

The Chief Executives were Frank Okpenyen and Phanuel Kadey, Municipal Chief Executive for Nzema East and District Chief Executive for Adaklu respectively made thecall when they presented a total of 61 motorbikes and two gallons of fuel each to the assembly members to facilitate their work in various electoral areas at separate functions in Axim in the Nzema East municipality and Adaklu Tonu.

The logistics were provided by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in collaboration with the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) to deepen local governance in Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to assist assembly members in their work and also donated vehicles to directors of Agriculture and Metropolitan, Municipal District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to run the assemblies smoothly.

Mr Kadey observed that “regular allowance regime will make assembly members more accountable and responsive to the needs of their communities, strengthen sub-structures and coordinate development, I charge you not to relent in your work in deepening local governance in the municipality.”

Mr Okpenyen advised them to always maintain their motorbikes and lauded the government for its dedication, determination and commitment to assist and support the assembly to spearhead the development agenda.

“I appeal to you to use the bikes to visit electoral areas and explain the government’s policies and programmes and also bring their concerns to the Assembly for consideration, presentation of motorbikes is an indication the government attached importance to your work, use the bikes for mobilisation and not commercial purposes,” he cautioned. -gna.org