Nkoranza (B/A), Nov. 8, GNA - Alhaji Haruna Abdul-Salam, Nkoranza South District Coordinating Director, has stated that the District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies, would not deny assembly members of ex gratia for their invaluable roles in the development of the electoral areas.

He said the assemblies would honour the ex gratia rewards on condition of their ability to pay and not the demands from the assembly members. Alhaji Abdul-Salam was addressing members of the Assembly at their end-of-service meeting at Nkoranza on Monday. The meeting was to dissolve the Assembly officially to pave way for the organisation of the up-coming district assembly elections. He said that since the inception of the District Assembly concept, there had been uniformity in the provision of ex-gratia to assembly members throughout the country following directives from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

The Coordinating Director expressed concern about how some assembly members requested for "fantastic and unrealistic" awards and advised that in demanding for such packages, the assembly members should also consider the welfare needs and development of their communities. Alhaji Abdul-Salam urged the Assembly members to exercise restraint whilst the Assembly worked out something appreciable for their voluntary services to the district. Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive commended the assembly members for their roles and responsibilities in enhancing the development of the communities. Mr Agyekum urged the assembly members to use their rich knowledge and experiences in assisting their people to initiate development programmes that would bring remarkable changes in their living standards. He said through their joint efforts, the Assembly had initiated a number of development projects in the communities to move the district forward. Mr Agyekum mentioned the projects as classroom blocks, dormitory and computer laboratory centre for the Nkoranza Technical Institute and the Nkoranza Senior High School, a community clinic at Asonkwaa and a police station project at Nkoranza.

The DCE wished the Assembly members who are seeking re-election success so that they would come back to continue serving the Assembly. The presiding member of the Assembly, Mr Isaac Asirifi Kudom was full of praise to the assembly members for their regular attendance at meetings and their contributions to deliberations at Assembly sittings and said their services would remain a legacy for posterity. Meanwhile, the management of the Assembly has decided to offer GH¢500 as ex-gratia reward to members which had been unanimously agreed upon. 8 Nov. 10