Mr. Alfred Asiedu, President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) and Presiding Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, has unveiled plans to enhance the welfare of assembly members across the country.
He emphasized that one of his key priorities is securing an end-of-service benefit for assembly members. Unlike Members of Parliament, who receive equal benefits regardless of their location, assembly members’ benefits are dependent on the financial strength of their respective Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), which he described as inequitable.
Mr. Asiedu called for a standardized end-of-service benefit for all assembly members, to be funded from the Consolidated Fund, ensuring fairness across the board.
He made these remarks during the 68th Independence Day celebrations, which were held under the theme “Reflect, Review, Reset.” The event aimed to emphasize the importance of self-introspection, governance restructuring, and fiscal responsibility.
He praised the President for his initiative to involve national service trainees in discipline training, calling it a long-overdue move and stressing the importance of fostering discipline throughout the country.
Mr. Asiedu also highlighted the importance of extending the tenure of presiding members from two years to four years. He argued that this change would promote stability and allow presiding members to implement long-term policies more effectively.
Furthermore, he advocated for a review of the process for selecting presiding members, stressing that reforms were essential to strengthen local governance.
He assured assembly members that NALAG was committed to advocating for their welfare and would continue engaging stakeholders to push for these reforms.
