Kadjebi: Proceedings of the Kadjebi District Assembly were nearly disrupted on Thursday, May 14, following the non-payment of subcommittee's sitting allowances owed to Assembly Members.
According to Ghana News Agency, tension flared shortly after the adoption of the previous minutes for discussion when Mr. Philip Obornie, Assembly Member for the Dodo-Amanfrom North Electoral Area, demanded to know when the outstanding arrears would be paid. In response, the Presiding Member (PM), Mr. Anthony Ahiable, directed the question to the Kadjebi District Coordinating Director (DCD), Mr. Innocent Komla Gavua.
Mr. Gavua explained that the arrears had been processed and that Assembly Members could proceed to the District Finance Office to receive their payments. However, the Assembly Member for the Freetown Electoral Area, Mr. Stephen Afriyie, who was tasked by the PM to verify the claim, later reported to the House that the monies were not ready for disbursement. This development infuriated members and nearly brought proceedings to a halt.
Mr. Ahiable subsequently ordered that payments be made before the sitting could continue, stressing that Assembly Members deserved respect and should not be 'treated as kids.' The PM revealed that he personally spent close to GHS8,000 while representing the Assembly at a workshop in Tamale and had still not been reimbursed. He warned that the persistent delay in the payment of allowances and reimbursements to Assembly Members would no longer be tolerated.
Some members, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency after the sitting, expressed frustration over what they described as recurring delays in the payment of their entitlements, saying the situation negatively affected their official duties and morale. The meeting later resumed after assurances were given that the matter would be addressed promptly.