Bright Botchway, General Secretary of Young Cadres Association
The General Secretary of Young Cadres Association, vibrant pressure group in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bright Botchway has called on President Akufo-Addo and the Local Government to respect the Constitution by allowing MMDAs to function.
"I found the above directive not in order and totally 'useless' to be implemented by the local government, the directive from the Common Funds Administrator and central government", he said.
Botchway stated, "I have these questions for the government, which budget are they using to give us this directive? Have they nullified our MMDAs 2018 budgets that was approved in 2017, if yes, then there is no need we have MMDAs, do they know the problems within every locality?"
He stated that the NPP campaign policies cannot be used to strangulate MMDAs to suffer from the oppression on the usage of the Common Fund and he has given government seven working days ultimatum to rescind these directives or he will head to court to seek for an injunction on the policy.
He explained that Nation Builders corps, school feeding, planting for foods and jobs, were not captured in the MMDAs 2018 budget unless they disregard to the core that Assemblies don't matter now and forever.
"Where is the $125 million dollars secured by the previous government for a program called modernising agricultural productivity to the local economy (MAPLE), which President Akufo-Addo government mischievously change the name to planting for food and Jobs", he asked.
Finally, he said that even Assembly Common Funds are not release on time.
He said these are not something to joke as a government and if care is not taking it will collapse the Assemblies and their activities which will end delay development.
He urged the Local Government Ministry, Common Fund Administrator and the government should rescind this very directive and allow the Assemblies to work as an institutions that can help local development.
