Paying Assembly Members: Akim Oda MP urges President Mahama to Fulfill his Promise 

Member of Parliament for Akim Oda constituency Alexander Akwasi Acquah has called on the President John Dramani Mahama-led government to fulfill its promise of paying Assembly members. According to him, fulfilling this commitment would encourage more individuals to voluntarily serve as Assembly members and contribute to local development.

Speaking in Parliament on the challenges faced by Unit Committee members, the MP stressed that financial support is crucial for effective governance at the local level. He emphasized that, in addition to payment for Assembly members, direct resource allocation to electoral areas is necessary to enhance their operations.

Hon. Acquah pointed out that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had pledged to allocate a portion of the Common Fund to electoral areas, a move he believes would have addressed this challenge. “Unfortunately, we did not vote for him,” he remarked.

He noted that in Ghana’s local governance structure, only Assembly members and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are visibly active, while Unit Committees and other structures struggle due to a lack of empowerment and financial support. “How can they be empowered without ensuring financial capacity or a system that grants them access to funds?” he questioned.

The MP further revealed that during the primaries in his constituency, the utilization of the Common Fund was a key campaign issue. To address this, he assured his constituents that the fund would be fairly distributed across all 18 electoral areas.

“Since I was elected, every disbursement of the Common Fund has been done transparently. Each electoral area, led by its Assembly member, has an account, and funds are directly transferred from the Assembly into these accounts. This approach has made it easier for me to account for the Common Fund every quarter,” he explained.

He added that although there may not be a major project bearing his name in every electoral area, there is tangible evidence of how the MPs’ Common Fund has been utilized. “Wherever you go, there is something to show for it. This is a critical area because, if not managed properly, it can be used against you in future campaigns,” he concluded.