We Need Electoral Area Development Fund - Assembly Members Cries.

 

The Ghana Association of Assembly Members is a non-partisan group of Assembly members across the 16 regions of Ghana. The association is registered with the Registrar Generals Department of Ghana and posses all valid documents required by law to operate. The association has about 85% coverage of elected Assembly members in the country.

On August 18,2021, the association held its maiden press conference at the Wa municipal Assembly conference hall to register their displeasure on the way government is treating its members.

The Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) talked about their Ex-gratia where they stated that, the presiding member and the Assembly should be charged on the consolidated funds to pave way for adequate remuneration. To achieve this, parliament should revisit the article 250 of clause 1&2 of the 1992 constitution and section 11(2) of the local governence act 2016, act 936 which States that " The Emolument of The District Chief Executive' of the district shall be determined by government, clause 2 of the the same States that of the Presiding member of a district assembly and other members of the district shall be determined by the  district and paid out of the district assemblies own internal resources.

GAAM entreat that Hon. Members of parliament to amend this portion of the law and in case of entrenchment, an immediate referendum should be carried out to ensure that the welfare of the hon.members  is assured.

The Assembly members (GAAM) further proposes for the establishment of an Electoral Area Development Common Fund for Assembly members. They said a law should be enacted to enable assembly members to carry out minor development projects with strict district auditing, supervision carried out by the district technocrats.

The association said members of parliament as law making entity should be the guiding principle in drumming home this concern. GAAM sees that the pressure on hon.members will be reduced and the grassroots will live in harmony with assembly members and the Member of Parliament.