Former assembly members protest over unpaid ex-gratia in Twifo Ati-Morkwa

Former assembly members of the 8th Assembly of the Twifo Ati-Morkwa District Assembly in the Central Region have staged a demonstration to demand their end-of-service benefits, commonly referred to as ex-gratia.

The unpaid benefits, which have been outstanding for four years, span the period from 2019 to 2023.

The convener of the former assembly members, who is also the assembly member for Twifo Kayireku Ahia Electoral Area, Silas Kwame Danquah, vowed that they will continue pressing their demands until their ex-gratia payments are settled. He accused the district’s leadership of neglecting their responsibilities and disregarding their welfare.

He argued that their entitlements are mandated by the Local Governance Act 936, Section 11, Clause 2, which states that ex-gratia payments must be determined based on the assembly’s revenue capacity at the end of each tenure. However, they claim that the district’s Chief Executive, Robert Agyemang Nyantakyi, and the District Coordinating Director have failed to address the issue.

The disgruntled group comprised 42 elected assembly members and government appointees who wore red armbands and shirts during the protest.

Some of the assembly members have indicated that they plan to stage a week-long picket to push for their concerns to be resolved.