Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, the Deputy Minister Designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, has reiterated the need for assembly members to receive allowances to support their work.
During her vetting before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Friday, February 28, 2025, she underscored the vital role assembly members play in local governance and emphasized the importance of equipping them with the necessary resources to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.
Sowah’s remarks follow President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, February 27, 2025, in which he announced plans to introduce allowances for assembly members.
Describing the initiative as a step in the right direction, Sowah stressed that assembly members undertake significant duties that often go unrecognized. She called for urgent action to ensure they receive the necessary financial support to enhance service delivery at the local level.
“The president during the SONA yesterday mentioned allowances for assembly members and I believe it is in the right direction,” she stated.
Sowah underscored the critical role assembly members play in local governance, particularly in addressing community needs and driving development at the grassroots level.
She noted that while assembly members are often the first point of contact for community issues, they frequently lack the financial support necessary to carry out their duties effectively.
“When you come to assemblies, some of them are salaried workers. When you go into some communities, the workers there are enormous, even the assembly members. So, they need these resources to support them in their work.
“In as much as the unit committee members are the first point of call, a journey of a thousand miles, they say, begins with a step. So, as we have started with giving the assembly members allowances, I believe that the unit committee workers will follow,” she stated.