Assembly Members advised against contracts, favours
Mr Vincent Kuagbenu, National Coordinator for the National Service Scheme, on Tuesday, inaugurated the 6th assembly of the Mpohor Wassa East District Assembly at Daboase.
The assembly consists of 34 elected members, 15 appointees, the District Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament for the area.
In an address read for him by Mr Kuagbenu, President John Atta Mills said any member of the assembly, who uses his or her position to gain contracts or undue favours from the assembly would be committing a serious offence of conflict of interest and would be liable to sanction.
He advised Assembly Members not to seek favours from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and management as this undermines their authority to demand accountability from management.
President Mills said MMDCEs are expected to be diligent, accountable and responsive to their individual assemblies and the people.
Mr Anthony Bassaw, the District Chief Executive, said it is the responsibility of the members of the assembly to coordinate between their people and the assembly, in order to champion the cause of development in their electoral areas.
He appealed to the assembly members to make efforts to tap the rich experience and expertise of their pre-decessors.
They should also work in close collaboration with the traditional authorities, so that together with the community members, develop their electoral areas with the active involvement of all.
Later, Mr Stephen Mensah Kwofie was elected as the Presiding Member of the House, in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC).
In an acceptance speech, he thanked members of the assembly for the confidence and trust they have reposed in him.
He promised to live up to expectation and work hand in hand with traditional authorities and the people, who have their respective roles to play in the development of the district.
Mr Kwofie called on members of the assembly to bury their political and other differences and work as team to ensure the overall development of the area.
Source: GNA