The Savannah Regional Chapter of Ghana Association of Elected Assembly Members, is pressing for an improved welfare package structure for assemblymen within the local governance setting who are elected as people’s representative at the various assemblies.
It is a known fact that assembly members (assemblymen) do not receive monthly salary but only allowance during assembly meetings.
They are also offered motorbikes as a means of transportation to enable them do their work for the community in which they serve.
However, the Savannah Regional Chapter of GAAM is calling for an improved welfare package for assemblymen who serve as development agents by rendering an unflinching social services for their respective electoral areas.
Below is a statement signed by GAAM, Savannah Regional Chapter President, Hon. Abdulai Yakubu Gawan;
GHANA ASSOCIATION OF ELECTED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS (GAAM) SAVANNAH REGIONAL CHAPTER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WELFARE OF ELECTED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS MUST BE CRITICALLY LOOKED AT.
In the wisdom of the framers of our 1992 constitution, the governance structure of our country has been structured in three levels, i.e. government at the National Level headed by the President with Parliament having supervisory role.
These two important institution draw their emoluments and other conditions of service from the consolidated fund.
The framers, following the same logic made government at the Regional Level to be headed by a Regional Minister who to serve as a supervisor to the MMDAs and also serve as a linkage between MMDAs and the Central Government. All programs and activities of the Government at the regional level ranging from Logistics and salaries are as well fully drawn from the consolidated fund.
The lowest and most important of the three levels of governance is at the District level. At this level, the government is headed by either a District, Municipal or a Metropolitan Chief Executive. And Assembly Members provide deliberative, legislative and supervisory roles over the government at the district level just as Members of Parliament do at the national level.
Friends from the media, let as ask ourselves, do Assembly Members enjoy any conditions of service similar to what Members of Parliament enjoy at the National Level? Is there any good reason to make the most important link in our governance system voluntary service? Is it not discriminatory that the head of the government at the district level draws all his emoluments from the consolidated fund just like his superior at the national level whereas Assembly Members are left to the good will of the MMDC whom they are supposed to hold in check? How do we as a nation expect to see development at the grassroots level when the link between government and the governed is completely neglected and demotivated?
Every now and then, citizens of this our great nation complain of shoddy works from Contractors at the district level and this is as a result of inability of Assembly members to effectively supervise civil servants and contractors who sometimes short change the citizenry.
Most of these activities go unnoticed until either a vigilant citizen or a curious media blows the cover of this cabal. But have you for once ask yourselves why we have Assembly Members at the various Electoral Areas where these contract is undertaking and Works Sub-Committee at our various MMDAs but yet they are not able to point out this rots? Because they are not adequately resourced. Some may say Assembly Members are resourced with Motorbikes to work with.
Well, we as Assembly Members see those motorbikes as a bye bye package because the last Assembly had their motorbikes ten months to the expiration of their tenure and this current assembly is one year, six month old without any sign of the coming of the motorbikes. In any case, how do we run motorbikes when we do not have any form of allowance?
We the members of Ghana Association of Elected Assembly Members (GAAM), Savannah Regional Chapter is by this press release calling on our Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin and Hon. Members of the eight Parliament to trigger the appropriate constitutional amendments to correct this abnormally by instituting a welfare package for Assembly Members not only for the purpose of equity and fairness but to bring effectiveness, competence and the needed development to our communities through our local government system as prevailing in other democracies across the globe. Democracy is expensive but it can never have an alternative.
Long Live Ghana
Long Live Democracy
Long Live GAAM
Signed:
Hon. Abdulai Yakubu Gawan
Regional President
02464103112 / 0202473272
Hon. Thomson Abu Sumani
Regional Vice President
0549304377
Hon. M. Shiraz-Deen
Regional Secretary
0243762334
Hon. Rahaman
Regional PRO
0200705835
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