The assembly member for Zorkor-Gambrongo in the Bongo District Awineyesema Abiire is not pleased with the GH¢100 million allocation in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the payment of allowances to members of the various assemblies.
Per his computation, Awineyesema said, each of the about 9,000 assembly members will receive a monthly stipend of less than GH¢1,000 in the 2025 financial year.
“When I did my computations, assembly members are going to get less than GH¢1,000 Ghana cedis a month, and that is not too good,” he stated.
He added, “that cannot organize two separate meetings for me in Zorko Gambrongo community. Gambrongo community is very large. So to organize two separate meetings to bring the people out and hear their views and involve other stakeholders, GH¢900 Ghana cedis cannot organize two separate meetings to receive input and take to assembly”.
This, in his view, is inadequate and must be reviewed upwards in the mid-year budget review to ensure local government officials have the wherewithal to execute their mandate.
President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress, while in opposition, pledged to pay allowances to assembly members.
After taking over government and ahead of their maiden budget statement, Awineyesema was expectant of provision to be made towards the fulfilment of the promise, stating each member should be paid stipend not less than GH¢2,000.
The assembly member, who doubles as an accounting lecturer at the Bolgatanga Technical University, said while he is happy the government has kept its word, the amount is inadequate to offset the expenses assembly members incurred in delivering their mandates.
“For recognizing our effort and knowing very well that we expend money in our daily duties, at least a little inflow is better. So I think I should thank them. But we are waiting for a proper revision in the mid-year budget review where that figure could be scaled up with necessary arears paid.”
However, he praised the Minister of Finance highly for proposal fiscal policies, he said, are sound and could turn things around for many in the country.
