Assembly members attend conference

Alhaji Mohammed Kwaku Doku, President of National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), on Tuesday called on the assembly and presiding members to critically study and make inputs into the Draft Consolidated Local Government Bill.

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLG&D) is collecting public views and inputs on the bill, yet to be presented to cabinet to push before parliament.

According to Alhaji Doku, who is the Asunafo North Municipal Chief Executive, assembly and presiding members play pivotal roles in the district assembly concept, explaining that the decentralisation and local government system could be strengthened when they are well resourced.

He made the call at the opening session of a day’s conference organised by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Branch of Presiding Members (PM) Association at Abesim, near Sunyani, and attended by the 27 members.

Alhaji Doku explained that efforts by the MLG&D to push or the enactment of a bill, is a laudable idea, which needs the support of key stakeholders in the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

He observed that unit committees and urban councils as well as assembly and PMs are the cornerstone of the local government system; hence their views and opinions could not be underrated in the enactment of a law that would promote the decentralisation concept.

Alhaji Doku expressed optimism that submissions and inputs from the public would be fused into the bill, when necessary so that its passage would promote and strengthen decentralisation and the local government system.

Mr Wisdom Kwasi Zor, PM at Pru District Assembly and NALAG Regional Representative, appealed to the Association to ensure that ex-gratia for assembly members are paid from the consolidated fund after serving their terms.

He observed that because most of assemblies could not generate more funds internally, they found it difficult to pay assembly members the deserved ex-gratia.

Mr Zor appealed to the MLR&D to consider allocating part of the District Assembly’s Common Fund to assembly members to support development in their various constituencies.