Review ex-gratia for assembly members

The Assemble Member for the Awuah Newtown Electoral Area, in the Sunyani West District, Mr. Richard Agyemang Badu, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to review ex-gratia for ex-assembly members.

Speaking to The Chronicle in Sunyani, Mr. Agyemang Badu noted that currently, ex-gratia assembly members are paid from the Common fund, which limits their benefits.

He kicked against the system where members receive end of service benefits, based the financial strength of his or her assembly. "Assemblies with high revenues are paying their members juicy end of service benefits, while the less-endowed assemblies are paying less attractive, but we are doing the e work," he said.

Agyemang Badu suggested that government put measures in place to ensure that a uniform end of service package is paid to all the assembly members.

He also suggested the provision of incentives for assembly members, to enable them discharge their duties effectively.

He said sometimes some assembly members found it very difficult to carry out communal labour, because of the lack of working tools.

He pointed out, "The provision of certain basic working tools at Area Councils could assist assembly members who wish to lead their people in communal labour," he said.

Mr. Agyemang Badu, again, urged the government to put in place measures to improve the structures in the various unit committees. This, he noted, would make them more attractive to members.

He urged his fellow assembly members in the country, to support incoming District and Municipal Chief Executives to accelerate socio-economic development in their areas.

Mr. Agyemang Badu wished President Atta Mills and Vice President John Mahama good luck, as the occupants of the highest offices of the land.

He urged the two first citizens, to work as hard as their predecessors, ex-President Kufuor and ex-Vice President Aliu Mahama, to move the country forward.