Gov’t decision to pay assembly members increasing community demands– Kassena Nankana PM
Atisi said the public perception that assembly members are now on a regular salary has triggered a wave of financial demands from residents.
Christopher Atisi, the Presiding Member of the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Assembly and Assembly Member for the Atosale-Azaasi Electoral Area, has expressed concerns that the government’s decision to place assembly members on allowances has escalated pressure and unrealistic expectations from community members.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Thursday, November 20, Atisi said the public perception that assembly members are now on a regular salary has triggered a wave of financial demands from residents.
According to him, many community members now believe that the allowances automatically place assembly members in a position to solve personal and community problems.
“People in the community got information that assembly members are now paid. Now, if you are paid, why can’t you pay my school fees? If you are paid, why can’t you renovate the chief’s compound? If you are paid, why can’t you fill the potholes in the classroom?”
Atisi described the situation as a growing burden on local representatives, who are already struggling with limited logistical support to execute their mandate.
He noted that despite the public impression that assembly members are consistently receive allowances, the actual disbursement has been irregular.
“That was April, May, June. Yes, they started in April. So we took April, May, and June; the rest of the months we’ve still not received. We’ve not taken it yet.”
He stressed that while many residents assume that assembly members are well-resourced, they remain unaware of how infrequent or minimal the allowances are.
“The information is out there, they think we’re being paid regularly. They won’t know how regular it comes. And once you are paid, come and do the work, they say.” He added.
Describing the allowances as inadequate, Atisi questioned how assembly members could meet public expectations when the financial support they receive is hardly enough to sustain their official responsibilities.
“How much are they paid? That’s the question. If you give an assemblyman who has to attend every passing-out activity, every funeral, every wedding ceremony, maybe a thousand Ghana cedis that comes in every six months, how do we survive?” He asked.
Atisi said the growing demands, fueled by misinformation, have left assembly members overburdened and compelled to meet expectations they are not financially equipped to fulfil.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Alexander Bombande
