The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Mahama has emphasized that in his next government in 2021 he will migrate all assembly members unto a payroll to earn a salary.
Currently, assembly members in certain poor districts receive less than Ghc 30 for an assembly sitting whilst others in rich municipal and metropolitan receive about Ghc 200 for a sitting. They are all assembly members in Ghana but do not receive same amounts because of where they operate.
The voice of John Mahama who has been an assemblyman before to get them unto a payroll is a good call to deepen our decentralization.
Local governance in contemporary times is both a tool and system designed for development at the local level.
Amazingly Local Governance has been with us for virtually three decades and this has made the Ghanaian concept of decentralization enviable in the whole of Africa
There is so much evidence in its pacesetting and there are a number of African countries that take a queue from Ghana and are still tapping from her experiences.
According to a Local Governance expert. Augustine Amuah Nai, payment of salaries to assembly members will go a long way to improve our system.
He also said that Topical of decentralization everywhere in the world is the fullest autonomy given to the local government in the areas of fiscal, political, and administrative, though other facets could be in the form of market and or economics.
Despite the three areas or more enumerated above, however, one of the factors hampering local governance in Ghana is the fact the assembly members who are the supposed legislators, developers and agents of critical deliberations are not paid in sharp contrast to their senior counterparts in Parliament receiving better remuneration from the consolidated fund.
This situation creates a deficit in function and operation at the local level.
The following are major contributions that a policy to effect payment of assembly members might bring, not only locally but nationally;
The Quality of assembly membership shall be elected as it becomes a full-time job and no longer the perceived voluntary job for the local champions.
Secondly, the Legislative functions of the assembly shall be augmented, since a lettered assembly member is likely to scrutinize, research, survey critically before the passage of documents and laws at the level.
Thirdly It shall force the hand of central government to select party members who are more qualified administratively for the position of chief executive.
Hence, the days of round pegs in square holes shall be over.
This will lay the foundation for the realisation of the administrative decentralization in the country
If checked well functional and operational assemblies shall have the powers to recruit and thus be able to hire and fire.
It shall dwindle the partisan syndrome at the local level where a supposed MMDCEs might be forced to work optimally and efficiently with a well remunerated assembly who are likely to be more professionals and independent minded.
Many elite in society see the assembly to be dysfunctional and socially ineffective as a result of the calibre and timbre of the elected and appointees.
When Assembly members are put on payroll more qualified persons are likely to be elected, and thus opening up the assembly to all within the jurisdiction.
Governments at the local level shall be highly competitive and thus bringing out the very best as a result of the remuneration policy that shall be churned out.
Assembly members will become more responsible within their very electoral areas and thus bridging the gap that is perceived to be created as result of not being paid, but playing a mere voluntary role to the people.
The reporting role and the feedback mechanism from the electorate shall therefore be enforced automatically.
More demands and work shall be expected and exacted from the assembly members as long as the general public is aware they are being paid.
There is likely to be efficient and optimal work of the staff of the assembly, particularly so when the competitive assembly election as result of the remuneration policy brings out the very best of membership and the staff are thus put under the spot light for the achievement of vision or desired goals.
From the above exposition, there is no doubt whatsoever that the policy of remuneration or payment of salary to assembly members shall not only bring the best at the local level but will cumulatively affect the entire national developmental agenda and the governance architecture as well.
I remain the echoing voice of a village scribe and the son of a gong-gong beater.
TT Caternor
La Dadekotopon
