By:Isaac Amoah/ tntnewspapergh.com

Tension is currently brewing in the various Metropolitan, Municipal Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country over the proposed emolument or End of Service Benefits (ESB), popularly known in Ghana as “ex-gratia”, for Assembly members, whose term of office ended in 2023.

Information reaching “The New Trust” newspaper indicates that contrary to the provisions in the laws of Ghana, which mandate MMDAs to decide on emolument for presiding members and other members of the various Assemblies at the end of their term in office based on each Assembly’s capacity, the central government, through the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development and Decentralisation, has ignored that.

To deepen the anger of the members, the Local Government Minister has gone further to direct the various Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) to inform MMDAs to pay GH¢3,000, GH¢2,500 and GH¢2,000 as emolument to members at the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies respectively.

Hon.Patrick Kwame Frimpong led executives

This decision by the government has been rejected by the members across the country, thereby sparking tension.

In the light of the agitation, the Association of Presiding Members (PMs) Conference in the Ashanti Region, led by Mr. Patrick Kwame Frimpong, who doubles as the Assembly Member for the Krofrom East Electoral Area within KMA, has filed an official petition against the move by the government.

The full petition reads:

CONFERENCE OF PRESIDING MEMBERS ASHANTI
P.O. Box KS 16005, Adum – Kumasi
Tel.024-2773020

PETITION AGAINST THE PROPOSED RATES FOR THE PAYMENT OF END OF SERVICE EMOLUMENT FOR HON. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

In reference to the letter number SCR/HC17/286/01 dated 24th April,2024 which
states, “Accordingly we kindly request Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) to inform all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to determine the payment of emoluments to the hon. Assembly Members whose tenure ended in 2023 within the
proposed amounts.”

However, in reference to the Constitution, Chapter 20, Section 250(2) which states,
“The emolument of a presiding member of a District Assembly and other members of the Assembly shall be determined by the District Assembly and paid out of the Assembly’s
own resources” and also a reference to Local Governance Act (936) in 2016 states that
“the emolument of a Presiding Member of a District Assembly and other members of the District Assembly shall be determined by the District Assembly and paid out of the
District Assembly’s own resources.

“We count on your usual cooperation in this regard. Thank you.”
The petition was jointly signed by: PATRICK KWAME
FRIMPONG,KMA PM&DEAN,
HON. ANTHONY KWAME NSIAH,
PRESIDING MEMBER& ATWIMA KWANWOMA,VICE DEAN
HON. ISAAC OSEI-.DUAH,
PRESIDING MEMBER& AMANSIE CENTRAL,SECRETARY
HON. AUGJSTINE KOFI ADOMAKO-
PRESIDING MEMBE& ADANSI ASOKWA-ORGANIZER,
HON
NSAH,
PRESIDING MEMBER & E]ISU MUNICIPAL-TREASURER

DISTRIBUTION:
THE MINISTER
LOCAL GOVT AND DECENTRALIZATION-ACCRA,

THE PRESIDENT,NALAG
ACCRA,
THE MINISTER
ASHANTI REGIONKUMASI
THE GENERAL SECRETA