Two Million cedis ex-gratia award for Assembly members

Jasikan (V/R), Sept 9, GNA- There was swaying stance between the management of the Jasikan District Assembly on one hand and their assembly-members on the other, during the determination of the ex-gratia award for members of the Assembly on Friday.

The tempestuous session, which climaxed the dissolution of the old assembly, saw members settling on two million cedis from the initial three million cedis the House proposed.

The members vehemently contended that the amount was not negotiable but, November 30, this year was settled as the date for payment. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment have pegged the payment of ex-gratia award to Assembly members at between 1.5 million to two milliohm cedis.

Mr Solomon Kwame Donkor, Chief Executive of the District explained that their ability to pay hinged solely on the internally generated funds, which had been low in recent times.

He said even though the market tolls, fees and other sources of revenue mobilization have been privatized, collectors continue to ditch and thwart their collective efforts at revenue generation by employing fictitious tactics to outwit the system.

Mr Donkor exclaimed, "in this digital era, people tasked to collect revenue still engaged the fussy barter system and sometimes issued old receipts just to paralyze the collection system and render it inefficient".

He blamed the situation on the reluctance and inability of some assembly-members whose areas have economic facilities like markets to monitor the collection process to stem the negative attitude. "We could have paid five million cedis without sweat. I am surprised people are controlling systems, when it's rather the vice versa in some civilized areas", the DCE lamented.

Mr Oppon Brenya, member for Apesokubi electoral area said the meagre ex-gratia award to members was a disincentive to the participation and realization of the district assembly concept. He said waning interest in the concept was dangerous for the country's fledgling democracy and called for its reversal. Mr Brenya said the dysfunctioning of the sub-structures of the district Assembly's concept should be a pointer and called for redress including awareness creation.

The House suggested that a central fund be created by the sector Ministry, which should be an addition to the District Assemblies Common Fund and payable at the expiration of terms of members to serve as motivation and at the same time sustaining the district Assembly concept.