The government has proposed an independent commission to determine emolument for assembly members.

This, if completed will ensure that assembly members are paid for their work and also bring in experienced individuals to participate in the local government system, whiles deepening the decentralisation process.

The Minister for Education, Hon. Lee Ocran made the disclosure when, he represented President John Evans Atta Mills at the inaugural ceremony of the Mpohor District Assembly at Mpohor in the Western Region.

The Mpohor District is among the 46 newly created Municipal and District Assemblies by the government in accordance with the constitution. The district was carved from the Mpohor Wassa East District, created in 1988 by the then PNDC government.

Hon. Ocran said government has issued a white paper on the Constitutional Review Committee’s   (CRC) recommendation, on the election of District Chief Executives, saying that the President will nominate five persons to be vetted by the Public Services Commission, of which three will contest for the position in an election at the district.

This, he further said, will reduce the tension that usually exists between District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament over the use of the common fund, since they will now be directly responsible and accountable to the electorates.

The Presidents’ representative enumerated some of the immediate benefit that will come to the newly created districts to include, administrative office block, DCE, Co-ordinating directors, Junior and Senior Staff bungalows.

The rest are provision of potable water, tarring of the major road leading to the district, two senior high school and hospitals among others.

Hon. Ocran also disclosed that the new districts have also received a seed capital of GH¢42 million. He added that the creation of the district is in fulfilment of the NDC’s promise in 2008 to deepened decentralisation.

Speaking at the ceremony, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the defunct Mpohor Wassa East District, Mr Anthony Bassaw said that the long awaited district has finally been inaugurated to commerce work, adding that the creation will bring governance to the door steps of the people for effective participation.

He urged Unit Committee and Assembly Members to work hard to accelerate the development of the district and also justify the creation.

Touching on payment of tax, Mr Bassaw admonished the people to cultivate the habit of paying tax, adding that relying on the common fund alone will not bring the expected development unless it is complemented by internally generated funds.

He used the opportunity to appeal to land lords to offer reasonable rate to staff of the Assembly to encourage them to work.

The DCE told the people that the name of the district will be changed to reflect the two traditional areas, thus Mpohor and Fiase.

Earlier on, the Omanhene of Mpohor traditional area, Osabarima Kwaw Entsie II who was the chairman of the event expressed his appreciation to the government for lifting the image of Mpohor by granting it a District status. He promised to assist the assembly any way he can to promote development in the area.

The occasion was graced by both current and former Members of Parliament, former DCEs and Assembly Members as well as DCEs of sister district among many others.

Ghanadistricts.com