Sefwi-wiawso: Residents of Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western North Regional capital have lauded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led administration for the payment of allowances to Assembly members.
According to Ghana News Agency, the residents commended the initiative, stressing that it would enhance local governance by making assembly members more effective in their electoral areas. "Assembly members play a critical role within the local government concept and giving them allowances would enhance local participation, since most of them are the first point of call in issues of local governance, problem solving and local development," Mr. Kwabena Nkuah, an opinion leader, indicated.
Others expressed that while the government deserves commendation, unit committee members should also be considered due to their crucial role in supporting assembly members' performance. Mr. Farouk Ahmed Omar, Assembly member for Market Area and Asawinso zonal council chairman, told the Ghana News Agency that the gesture is welcoming news, marking the first time assembly members would receive a monthly allowance.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for the achievement and appealed for the prompt payment of the allowance to help solve challenges at the electoral areas. The assembly member also appealed to the local government ministry to consider creating additional electoral areas within the Wiawso Municipality, as many existing areas are too large for one assembly member to handle effectively.
The government recently released the first tranche of Gh25 million for the payment of nontaxable allowances to assembly members nationwide.
