Regional News of Wednesday, 16 July 2003

Source: GNA

Presiding Members of District Assemblies need to be remunerated

Kyebi (E/R0, July 16, GNA - A member of the Council of State, Mr Fred Yaw Asante has suggested appropriate monetary packages for Presiding Members of District Assemblies.

He said if this were done people elected to the position would not feel reluctant to leave their private businesses to take up the appointment.

Mr Asante said this at a meeting of the Eastern Region Presiding Members Association at Kyebi.

"The District Assemblies are expected to be non-partisan but their performance in the implementation of development projects have a bearing on the ruling government, he said.

He called on the Presiding Members to ensure that the implementation of development projects of the District Assemblies was in line with the development plan of the government.

The East Akim District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Victor Asihene, told the meeting that they should "have a large heart to contain all partisan outburst at the assembly".

Ms Beatrice B. Boateng, Chairman of the Eastern Region Presiding Members Association, called for co-operation between the Presiding Members and their District Chief Executives.

"Nothing good can be achieved in a district where the District Chief Executive and the Presiding Member cannot tolerate each other." The Presiding Member of the East Akim District Assembly, Mr Kwesi Amoako-Atta said the Association was formed to enable the members to share ideas and experiences to ensure the development of the assemblies and the Eastern Region as a whole.