Association of Assembly Members expects payment of allowances to be captured in 2025 Budget

The Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) is optimistic that the payment of their allowances will be included in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, which is set to be presented to Parliament.

While commending President Mahama for his swift action toward ensuring the payment of allowances to assembly members, the group is calling for a legislative framework to make the initiative binding on all future governments.

At a media briefing in Kumasi, the group expressed appreciation for the government’s effort in fulfilling a campaign promise but also urged authorities to address the challenges assembly members face in carrying out their duties.

“We plead that the payment of allowances should be promptly consistent and backed by a legislative framework to make it binding notwithstanding which government is in power,” said Isaac Manu, National Secretary for GAAM.

The President in his first State of the Nation Address re-echoed his commitment to shaping local governance by giving allowances to assembly members.

But GAAM expects the government to pay their end-of-service emolument from the Consolidated Fund.

“We plead that our end-of-service benefits, which are very small because it’s from the Internally Generated Fund, will be integrated into the Consolidated Fund,” the President of GAAM, Frank Ackah Nelson, pleaded.

The Western North Regional representative at the meeting, Ruth Owusu, also pleaded with the government to consider women and review the process of motorbike distribution.

“I plead that motorbikes be substituted for mini cars since most of the assembly members are women and cannot ride. Also, the delivery of cars should be prompt and not at the later part of ending our tenure,” she pleaded.

GAAM also called on the government for frequent and continuous workshops and symposiums to equip members with the day-to-day demands of their duties.

The interim executives called on the over 6,000 members to show up for their upcoming Congress to elect new national executives.

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