The Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) has called on the government to take the necessary steps to establish Electoral Area Development Fund (EADF) as promised by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
The association said the institution of the EADF would enable the Assembly Members to initiate some pertinent development projects in their electoral areas to facilitate development at the community level alongside the government’s intervention.
Mr Jikpwe Kubugu Mohammed, the Upper West Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GAAM, made the call at a press conference in Wa on Wednesday.
He called on parliament to facilitate the process of instituting the Development Fund by amending the necessary laws to that effect.
Mr Mohammed, who was the Assembly Member for Bawiesibelle Electoral Area in the Sissala East Municipality, said the Electoral area development fund should be drawn from the District Assembly Common Fund backed by a law to ensure its sustainability.
He also advocated the need for provision of monthly allowances for Assembly Members to be drawn from the Consolidated Fund.
“There should be the provision of allowances as monthly stimulus which should be charged on the consolidated fund. If this is done the pressure on assemblies will be reduced”, he explained.
The association is also demanding the emolument Presiding Members and Assembly Members including the ex-gratia should be charged on the consolidated fund to adequate remuneration of assembly members.
In that regard, Mr Mohammed indicated that the appropriate legal frame works should be put in place to guarantee the welfare of Assembly Members just like how the constitution guarantees the determination of the emolument of other officers at the district level, particularly the District Chief Executive.
Further, Mr Mohammed urged the government to prioritize the transportation needs of assembly members to enable them perform their constitutional mandate effectively.
He said assembly members will reject any inferior motorbikes that the government will provided for them.