By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Anloga (VR) Feb 28, GNA – Some Assembly members in the Anloga District of the Volta Region are hailing the government’s new allowance policy announced during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) Thursday, February 27.
According to them, the policy promises to provide assembly members with a significant financial boost and motivate them to work harder and deliver better services to their communities.
Mr Joseph Kpatta, Presiding Member (PM) of Anloga District Assembly, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the new policy, said the policy was a welcome development, considering the numerous responsibilities of assembly members.
“This is good news for us all to embrace as Assembly member, and per our responsibilities we have, and the grassroots interaction we are having with our communities with associated challenges, we must support government to implement this policy to help us deliver well on our mandates.”
Mr Kpata suggested that unit committee members at various electoral areas should also benefit but must not be left out from the allowance policy, addition that, “an allowance of at least thousand or more for Assembly members would not be bad.”
He explained that assembly members had numerous responsibilities, including interacting with constituents, attending meetings and funerals, overseeing development projects among others and the allowance policy would help motivate them to work harder and deliver better services to their communities.
Mr Dodzi Jumpah Ephraim, the newly-elected assembly member of Tegbi-Ashiata electoral area, said the policy was also expected to boost the morale of assembly members, who often worked under challenging conditions while providing them the acknowledged required for their hard work and dedication.
He said the new allowance policy for assembly members to receive was a step in the right direction, as it also recognised the important roles that they played in local governance.
Some constituents GNA, spoke with, expressed satisfaction about the intended government’s policy to motivate assembly members who are expected to work harder and deliver better services to their communities.
Mr Jumpah, who is also Southern Volta Vice Chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (CCT), applauded President Mahama for the confirmation of maintaining the free SHS programme, among others to improve quality education.
Meanwhile, President Mahama was obliged under Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
GNA