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“Assembly-members need more recognition” -Paul Bright Mintah

The Assembly-member for Kwabenya Electoral Area, Paul Bright Mintah, is seeking an amendment in the country’s local governance system to ensure that Assembly-members play a key role in the implementation of central government projects.

Date Created : 7/22/2024 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Emmanuel Frimpong/Ghanadistricts.com

Speaking in an interview with Ghanadistricts.com, the Assemblyman said he was saddened by the sad reality of the fact that Assembly members are not recognized in the country’s governance system even though their role is to keep close contacts with citizens they represent as well as raising in the assembly all the needs and requests of residents at assembly meetings.

Paul Bright Mintah, who also doubles as the Presiding Member for the Ga East Municipal Assembly, bemoaned that most Assembly members are not formally briefed of plans to initiate projects in their communities let alone given the opportunity to play oversight responsibility of these projects.

As the first port of call in the communities, Mr. Bright Mintah believes Assembly members must be aware and properly informed of all ongoing projects in the electoral areas.

He therefore called for amendments in the country’s governance system to ensure that Assembly members are duly consulted and given the mandate to have a say before the government initiates any project in the community.

According to him, this is the only way to ensure due diligence in programmes and projects implementation as well as enhance value for money and reduce the rate of shoddy works by contractors due to limited supervision.

He seized the opportunity to enlighten Ghanaians about the role of assembly members and their importance in promoting decentralization.

He noted that Assembly members are representative of the community and serve as the intermediary between the people and the central government”.

As an Assembly-member, “you must know the issues or problems of the community and table them at the assembly level for immediate action.”