STATEMENT BY THE ELECTED ASSEMBLY MEMBERS OF AFIGYA KWABRE SOUTH DISTRICT ON ISSUES AFFECTING THE DISTRICT
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, fellow Assembly Members, traditional authorities, stakeholders, and the good people of Afigya Kwabre South District, we thank you for honoring our invitation to this press conference.
We, the elected Assembly Members of Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly, wish to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding recent actions taken by the District Coordinating Director (DCD) without due consultation or transparency.
A) Nomination of Two Assembly Members for Council of State Elections Without Our Knowledge
The District Coordinating Director unilaterally nominated two assembly members to participate in the election of a Council of State member without informing or consulting the full body of the elected assembly members as stipulated in Article 89 (2) (c) of the 1992 Constitution. This decision:
- Lacks transparency and goes against the principles of fairness and due process.
- Undermines the collective authority of elected representatives who are mandated to make such decisions as a body.
- Sets a bad precedent for governance and accountability at the district level.
We demand a full explanation and insist that future nominations be conducted in consultation with all assembly members, as required by democratic norms.
B) Swearing-in of Government Appointees Without Prior Notification
We also strongly object to the manner in which government appointees were sworn in without our prior knowledge and subsequently added to our official platform without proper communication in accordance with Article 242 (d) of the 1992 Constitution. This raises serious concerns about:
- The lack of transparency in administrative processes.
- The deliberate exclusion of elected members from critical governance activities.
- The failure to uphold democratic engagement within the Assembly
We demand clarity on the circumstances surrounding this unilateral action and call for proper
consultation and adherence to due process in such matters.
C) Suspension of Quarry Fund Revenue Mobilization Without Assembly Members Involvement
The sudden suspension of Quarry Fund revenue mobilization without involving the Assembly Members is another act of disregard for our collective governance responsibilities. The Quarry Fund is a crucial revenue stream for district development, and its management should involve all stakeholders, especially the elected representatives.
We request:
- A detailed explanation for this decision.
- A review of the process to ensure that revenue mobilization is done fairly and efficiently.
- Immediate engagement with the Assembly members to determine the best way forward.
D) Non-Payment of Ex-Gratia: A Betrayal of Our Service
Ex-gratia is not a privilege but a rightful entitlement for assembly members who have sacrificed their time and efforts to serve the people. The refusal to pay the remaining balance of our ex-gratia is a clear disregard for the work we have done in promoting local governance
and development in Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly.
We have been patient, we have engaged, and we have followed due process, yet there has been no commitment from the DCD to resolve this matter.
We are demanding without delay an immediate release of the remaining ex-gratia to all eligible assembly members.
E) Call for the Removal of the District Coordinating Director
The continued failure of the DCD to engage elected assembly members in key financial decisions and her lack of commitment to resolving these issues clearly demonstrate incompetence and a lack of leadership.
We, the elected assembly members, have lost confidence in her ability to lead the district administration effectively. Therefore, we are calling for her immediate removal from office to
allow for a more competent and transparent administrator to take over.
Conclusion: Enough is Enough!
We cannot continue to tolerate an administration that fails to respect assembly members and the laws that govern local governance. We are demanding action, and we will not relent until the DCD is removed for her failure to perform her duties effectively otherwise, we will boycott all assembly meetings including the election of the Presiding Member and as well as
the District Chief Executive.
We call on the media, the people of Afigya Kwabre South, and all stakeholders to support us in ensuring that fairness, accountability, and good governance prevail.
Thank you for your attention.
SIGNED:
ALL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS OF AFIGYA KWABRE SOUTH DISTRICT.
