Greater Accra Assemblies Meet

Presiding Members of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Greater Accra Region have ended their annual meeting at Tema. They discussed issues confronting the Assemblies and ways to enhance the District Assemblies concept. In a communiqu?, the Presiding Members observed that the District Assemblies concept and its implementation have helped to speed up the developments of the communities. The communiqu? however, noted with concern, the lack of co-operation between some communities and Assembly-members as a result of apathy on the part of the public towards meetings public fora and other activities organised by their elected representatives. It said since most Assemblies have scarce resources, they cannot afford to pay adequate allowances to their members.

That notwithstanding, the culture of the society compels Assembly members to meet the unlimited financial and social requests in demands of the electorate. The communiqu? also expressed concern about section 19 (2) of the local government act 1993, Act 462 which exempts presiding members from membership of the executive committee of the assemblies. They said this prevents them from having prior knowledge and an insight into discussions and deliberations on the issue brought before them during the general sections. The communiqu? said in view of the numerous sacrifices and invaluable contributions that Assembly members have made to ensure the success of the decentralisation process, government should consider giving more attractive Ex-gratia awards to them at the end of their term of office next year.

It urged parliament to consider amending sections 20 (1) and section 17 (3) of the local government Act 462, which deals with the Assemblies process of approving chief executives and Presiding members and the requirements that a simple majority from at least two thirds of Assembly Members present could vote at the meeting. They said this would eliminate the frustrations and cumbersome voting procedures that assembly members go through when a candidate repeatedly fails to obtain the required number of votes.