Assembly members urged to focus on development

Inaugurations of District and Municipal Assemblies in the Upper East Region went on smoothly on Tuesday with a call from President Atta Mills on assembly members to relegate their parochial interest to the background and discharge their functions at the assembly and their communities diligently.

He said when the assembly was served by dedicated and committed people who make it their duty to demand accountability of themselves and management of the District Assemblies (DAs), then the credibility of the assembly would be assured.

This was in a speech delivered on his behalf by his representatives in all the nine Districts and Municipal Assemblies during the inauguration of the assemblies.

He cautioned assembly members not to use their positions to seek favors from Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and management because it undermined their authority.

President Mills appealed to assembly members to be proactive in coming out with strategies in collaboration with management of the assemblies to generate adequate revenue to complement the efforts of the government.

He asked assembly members not to compromise their functions one of which was to “maintain close contact with their electoral areas, consult their people on issues to be discussed in the DA and collate their views, opinions and proposals.”

Mr John Tia Akolgo, Minister of Information, who delivered the President’s speech at the Inauguration of the Kassena Nankana East District, appealed to women to get involved in politics to enable them participate in decision making.

At the Bongo District Assemby, Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, inaugurated and swore in the 54 elected and appointed members, out of which nine were women.

Mr Woyongo urged the assembly members to work as a team and avoid wasting time to discuss party differences but rather see how best they could work to develop the area.

Source: GNA