MCE wants assembly members to be paid salaries

Kumasi, June 17, GNA - The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, has suggested assembly members be paid monthly salaries to motivate them to give of their best to strengthen political governance at the local level. He argued that this would also entice more knowledgeable and skilful people to contest for the position.

Mr Sarpong was contributing to discussions at a consultative forum on the review of the 1992 Constitution at the Prempeh Assembly Hall, in Kumasi. The MCE's suggestion was shared by many of the participants. The Election of District Chief Executives, Review of the Retirement Age, Pension for Lawyers on Senior Grades in the Judicial Service and Rethinking the Imposition of a Partisan Administration on a Non-Partisan Local Government System were among issues that attracted comments. The participants were unanimous in their position that there should be a law to ban homosexuality and lesbianism in the country. Sheikh Amadu Yakubu, an Islamic Scholar, said the fact that some countries had recognized same sex marriages did not mean Ghana should encourage this "abominable practice" in the name of fundamental human rights.

Ms Akua Oppong, a research scientist, said same sex marriage amounted to indiscipline and an affront to human dignity.

Everything should, therefore, be made to discourage it. Ms Augustina Akumanyi, Deputy National Chairperson of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), commended the participants for their forthright discussions and urged all Ghanaians to be part of the Constitutional Review Exercise.