Assembly Members protest exceeding quota of govt appointees

Abura Asebu (C/R) Oct 7, GNA - The inauguration of assembly members in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District Assembly ended abruptly as members argued over the exact number of government appointees that should have been appointed.

Eighteen of the 31 elected assembly members claimed the Government was trying to impose some members on the Assembly and walked out of the House when they were about to be sworn in by a judge.

They insisted that the number of Government appointees should be nine and not thirteen.

After several hours of deliberations, the assembly members could not come to a consensus, thus bringing the inauguration to an abrupt end.

Some traditional leaders present also complained about the mode of selection of the appointees, saying they were not consulted.

Prior to this, Mr. Sahib Mikail Abdul Rahman, the District Coordinating Director of AAK, had given his address from which he noted that the efficiency of the local government system was central to national development.

He entreated the newly-elected members to serve with dignity to make the system more efficient.

Mr. Charles Antwi Kyereme, a representative of the President had earlier admonished the assembly members to put national interest above all parochial party interests to ensure good governance at the local level.

He asked the assembly to consider other means of generating revenue to fund some development projects in the district, to reduce the over reliance on the central government.

He also urged them to make efforts to improve the living conditions of the people and involve them in the local government system.

It was after the President's address had been read and the number of appointee members made known that the aggrieved members protested.

Act 462 of the Local Government states that the appointee members should not exceed 30 per cent of the total number of the Assembly.

GNA