Sekondi, July 07, GNA - Mr George Kyei Baffour, National President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), on Thursday stressed the need to give attractive end of service benefit to Assembly Members.

He said this would encourage experienced and resourceful people to contest the district level elections and motivate Assemblymen. Mr Baffour made the call in an address read on his behalf by Miss Jane Edna Nyame, Second National Vice President of NALAG, at the Western Regional Conference of the Association in Sekondi. He said the NALAG had proposed 10 million cedis terminal benefit for every Assembly Member in view of their many roles, responsibilities and commitments in their electoral areas.

Mr Baffour appealed to District Assemblies and the other agencies connected to the decentralisation efforts to encourage and support women to contest the district level elections.

He urged the Assemblies to support the "Women in Local Governance Fund" and to contribute generously into it.

Mr Baffour explained that the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Women, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, NALAG and some NGOs committed to the advancement of women instituted the fund.

He said, "Statistics indicate that the political equation of who holds power and determine the distribution of the resources has not been very significant with respect to gender".

Mr Baffour said, "The power equation has been an unequal one, the tilt is often against our women," adding that, "It is important that we support our women to take their rightful place in local governance by ensuring that the necessary conditions and facilities are accorded them".

Mr Kwesi Biney, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahanta West who is also the Regional Representative to the National Executive Council of NALAG, was the chairman for the function.