Pay For Assembly Members - NALAG Calls For Debate

The National Association of Local Government (NALAG) has endorsed the call for a national debate on remuneration for assembly members. It said the calls were in the right direction and will help to strengthen the local government system in the country. The Minster of Local Government, Kwadjo Adjei Darko, made the call within the week, arguing that although the assemblies were bodies at the local government level, assembly members were least motivated. He, therefore called for a national debate on the matter which could lead to a constitutional amendment to make it possible for assembly men and women to be paid. The president of NALAG, Mawutor Goh, told Joy News that a discussion on the issue was long overdue. He said they have been pushing for the idea for about three years now. According to him, some members had argued that although their work was more hazardous than MPs, they were not paid while MPs were. He said one of the proposals made on the issue was a reduction in the number of electoral areas so that too much financial strain is not put on the state. He said a small number of assemly members could then be provided with well equipped offices to facilitate their work. He added that because of the lack of motivation for assembly members, it is difficult for highly educated and trained individuals to offer themselves for service in the assemblies. On the point however, of reducing the number of assembly members, some assembly members disagreed with him.