Government urged to increase Common Fund

Saltpond (C/R), Jan 13, GNA - The Central Regional Representative to the National Association of Local Government Authority of Ghana (NALAG), Mr Kojo Anaisie Yarquah, has called on the government to increase the District Assemblies Common Fund from the present five per cent to seven and half per cent.

This, he said, would make more funds available to the Assemblies to enable them to meet the demands of the full implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) and the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr Yarquah who is the Presiding Member of the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly, explained that increased enrolment in basic schools as a result of the capitation grant and the high patronage of health facilities as a result of the health Insurance Scheme called for additional facilities in educational and health institutions. The Presiding Member made the appeal when he addressed Mfantseman District Assembly at Saltpond, to explain some decisions taken by NALAG. Mr Yarquah appealed to the government to absorb the end of service benefits of Assembly Members since the Assemblies could not meet the demand from their own sources.

He called on the government to make the condition of service attractive for Assembly Members to attract professionals and technocrats to contest District Assembly elections.

Mr Yarquah also called for the amendment of Legislative Instrument 1589 of 1994, which established Unit Committees to reduce their number to ensure effective management and the allocation of resources. Mr Adjei Asamoah Kusi, Presiding Member of the Mfantseman District Assembly, commended the District Security Council and the security agencies for the professionalism they exhibited in curbing the crime wave in the District last year. 13 Jan 06