By::tntnewspaprgh.com

The Coalition of Concerned Presiding Members (PMs) has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama for urgent presidential intervention on disparities in the provision of official logistics to Assembly members.

The full petition signed by the Coalition on behalf of Assembly members in 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies is reproduced below:

PETITION
IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBERS’ MOTORBIKES
Urgent Presidential Intervention on Disparities in the Provision of Official Logistics
TO:
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana
Jubilee House, Accra
The Director-General, National Intelligence Bureau, and the National Security Secretariat
Through: Relevant Regional and District Security Directors
FROM: The Coalition of Concerned Presiding Members, Ghana
Representing concerns raised by assembly members across Ghana’s 261 MMDAs.

1. PURPOSE OF THE PETITION
   Your Excellency,
   We respectfully submit this petition on behalf of concerned Assembly Members across the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) of Ghana to express our deep concern and growing frustration over the prolonged delay in the delivery of official motorbikes intended to facilitate our duties as elected representatives of the people.
   We approach your high office with respect for the presidency and the institutions of our Republic. However, we consider it necessary to bring to your attention a situation that has persisted for far too long and is increasingly undermining the morale, effectiveness, and dignity of assembly members.
   Assembly Members are the closest elected representatives to the people. We are often the first point of contact for communities seeking development, the voices that carry local concerns to the assembly, and the representatives expected to monitor projects, engage residents, and promote accountability at the grassroots.
   Our appeal is, therefore, not merely about motorbikes. It is about fairness, effective local governance, respect for elected representatives, and the urgent need to equip those who serve at the grassroots to perform their responsibilities.

2. OUR CORE CONCERNS
   A. Prolonged delay in the delivery of promised motorbikes
   Assembly Members have waited for an unreasonably long period for the delivery of motorbikes intended to facilitate official duties within their respective electoral areas. These motorbikes are not luxury items or personal benefits; they are essential working tools that would enable members to monitor development projects, visit communities, respond to emergencies, engage constituents and follow up on issues affecting local development.
   Unfortunately, the continued delay has left many members struggling to perform these duties effectively, often at their own expense. Every additional month of delay places a further burden on representatives who are already confronted with significant community expectations and limited resources.
   How can we be expected to deliver effectively for our communities when the basic logistics required to perform our duties remain unavailable?
   B. Apparent disparity in the provision of official logistics
   We are particularly concerned about the apparent disparity between the logistical support provided to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and the prolonged wait experienced by Assembly Members.
   We recognise the importance of equipping MMDCEs to execute their executive responsibilities. We do not seek to diminish their role or deny them the resources necessary to serve. Our concern, however, is that the effectiveness of local governance depends on the complementary roles of executive leadership and elected assembly members.
   We are not asking that MMDCEs be deprived of their vehicles. We are asking that assembly members should not be neglected.
   Equity in local governance does not necessarily mean providing identical resources to every officeholder. It means ensuring that each category of public representative receives the support necessary to discharge its assigned responsibilities effectively. We therefore appeal to the government to address this apparent disparity with urgency, fairness, and transparency.
   C. Financial and operational burden on assembly members
   Across the country, Assembly Members are expected to remain accessible to their constituents, attend meetings, monitor projects, resolve community concerns, and respond to pressing local needs. These responsibilities often require frequent travel across electoral areas, including communities where public transport is unreliable or unavailable.
   In the absence of official motorbikes, members are compelled to rely on personal resources, hire commercial transport, or seek alternative means of transportation to perform duties that ultimately benefit the state and the communities they represent. This imposes an avoidable financial burden and can compromise the frequency and effectiveness of community engagement.
   Should elected representatives be expected to continuously finance essential official movements from their personal resources when the government has undertaken to provide the necessary logistics?
   Providing the promised motorbikes would strengthen grassroots governance, improve project monitoring, and enhance the responsiveness of local authorities to the needs of their communities.

3. OUR DEMANDS AND REQUEST FOR URGENT INTERVENTION

    

   

    

4. In view of the foregoing, we respectfully call upon His Excellency the President and the relevant authorities to take the following actions:
5. A clear and time-bound delivery plan
   We request that the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the relevant procurement and administrative authorities, provide a clear and verifiable update on the status of the motorbikes. This should include the procurement status, quantities available, outstanding deliveries, and a definite timetable for distribution to assembly members across all 261 MMDAs.
6. Immediate presidential intervention
   We respectfully appeal to His Excellency, the President, to intervene personally to ensure that the matter receives the necessary administrative attention and is resolved without further unnecessary delay. A timely intervention would demonstrate the Government’s commitment to equitable local governance and the welfare of elected grassroots representatives.
7. Accountability and transparent communication
   We request that the responsible authorities explain the reasons for the prolonged delay and communicate the practical steps being taken to complete the delivery process. Assembly Members deserve accurate information rather than repeated assurances without a clear and verifiable timeline.

8. Resolution within fifteen working days
   We respectfully request a substantive written response and a credible implementation roadmap within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of this petition. Our expectation is not merely an acknowledgement but a clear commitment supported by specific actions and realistic delivery dates.
   We remain open to constructive engagement with the government and all relevant stakeholders to achieve an amicable and timely resolution.

9. NOTICE OF POSSIBLE COLLECTIVE ACTION
   We wish to emphasise that this petition is a sincere appeal for dialogue and resolution. It should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the government or disrupt local administration.
   However, the continued absence of a satisfactory response would leave concerned Assembly Members with the difficult responsibility of considering lawful and constitutionally appropriate collective measures to draw attention to their legitimate concerns.
   Should the stipulated period expire without meaningful engagement or a credible implementation plan, the Coalition will consult its members and relevant leadership structures on the next appropriate steps, which may include:
   A. Coordinated advocacy and peaceful demonstrations
   To draw national attention to the prolonged delay and call for an urgent resolution.
   B. Institutional engagement and collective representation
   Through the appropriate structures of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), the Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM), and other relevant stakeholders.
   C. Lawful consideration of Assembly-related measures
   Members will be encouraged to pursue appropriate institutional and legal avenues to ensure that their concerns are formally addressed, including raising the matter during deliberations on the 2027 Composite Budgets in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and Assembly procedures.
   We stress that any collective action must be properly coordinated, lawful, and consistent with the statutory responsibilities of Assembly Members. Our preference remains dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over conflict, and a practical solution over prolonged disagreement. Nevertheless, dialogue must be matched by action, and assurances must ultimately translate into delivery.

10. OUR FINAL APPEAL TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
    Your Excellency,
    The strength of our democracy lies not only in decisions taken at the highest levels of government but also in the effectiveness of the institutions and representatives serving our people at the grassroots.
    Assembly Members are often the first to be approached when roads become impassable, development projects stall, sanitation deteriorates, emergencies arise, or communities demand answers from public institutions. We carry these concerns directly to our Assemblies and work with MMDCEs, coordinating directors, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders to find solutions.
    We can not effectively fulfil these responsibilities if the basic logistics required to reach our communities remain beyond our means.
    We therefore appeal to your sense of fairness, leadership, and commitment to strengthening local governance. We ask that this matter be treated with the urgency it deserves and that the necessary steps be taken to bring the prolonged wait to an end.
    Our request is reasonable: deliver the promised motorbikes, communicate transparently with the affected members, and ensure that grassroots representatives receive the logistical support necessary to serve their communities.
    We are not demanding special treatment. We are asking for fairness, accountability, and the fulfilment of a commitment that directly affects our ability to serve the people of Ghana.
    We remain committed to our constitutional and statutory responsibilities, to the peaceful advancement of our communities and to the principles of accountability and responsible local governance. We trust that your intervention will help restore confidence, strengthen cooperation between the government and assembly members, and ensure that this matter is resolved in the national interest.
    Respectfully submitted.

SIGNED:
THE COALITION OF CONCERNED PRESIDING MEMBERS, GHANA
On behalf of concerned Assembly Members across Ghana’s 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
CONTACT: 0242239755
CC:
• The Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Jubilee House, Accra.
• The Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.
• The Administrator, District Assemblies Common Fund.
• The President, National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG).
• The President, Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM).
• Relevant Regional and District Security Directors.
• All Media Houses.