COASUC-Ghana demands pardon for suspended KMA Assembly man

A group of Assembly members from the 216 District Assemblies calling themselves Conveners of Assemblies Of Sub- Committees(COASUC-Ghana) have called on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to take a second look at the suspension of Hon Oscar Riches, the assembly member for Asokwa Newtown Electoral Area.

According to COASUC-Ghana, in as much as they condemn the unacceptable and uncultured conduct of Hon Oscar Riches they believe the one year suspension handed down to their colleague was too harsh.

"We humbly believe the one year suspension melted to our honourable member for Asokwa Electoral Area was too harsh and need to be looked at again," they said at a press conference in Tema Thursday, which was addressed by the National Convener Hon. Stephen Kwesi Acquah.

Hon. Oscar Riches was suspended for assaulting the Assembly's Deputy Metro Coordinator Mr Karim Abdallah Adams.

Mr Riches was said to have punched Karim Abdallah Adams after a misunderstanding ensued between them during a recent meeting.

However, Hon. Stephen Acquah expressed the group's unhappiness about the hasty decision by the General Assembly of KMA to suspend their colleague when a case of assault had already been reported to the police and wondered why the Assembly couldn't wait for the police to conclude the matter before taking any decision against him.

"COASUC-Ghana would like to appeal the General Assembly of KMA to allow the law court to deal with the matter without Assembly preempting the verdict of the matter .

We are also appealing to the Hon. Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to use her good offices to intervene in this matter and address other challenges facing Assembly members in the country," he appealed.

He called on the KMA to desist from setting a bad precedent for other assemblies to follow.

He noted the KMA few months ago also suspended Hon Wilberforce Nana Kwame Akati, who is the Convener for Market Sub- Committee and Sub Metro Chairman for Manhyia for three months in a similar way.

He called on the staff of the various Assemblies to accord Assembly Members the needed respect and desist from using insulting and abusive words as well as derogatory remarks on honourable Assembly Members in order to prevent ignition of tempers.

Emoluments for Assembly Members

Stephen Acquah who expressed serious concerns about the poor conditions of Assembly Members said although they play very significant roles in their Electoral Areas as compared to the Members of Parliament, they are not properly catered for.

He said: "We're using our personal monies to support the vulnerable in our Electoral Areas, pay hospital bills, Child delivery bills and school fees without motivation and support from any quarters."

"We are called at anytime even in the night to attend to problems when others are sleeping. Yesterday for instance at about 8pm I was called to go and attend to a sewer problem so deserve better.

"We are therefore calling on all stakeholders in the local governance sector in this country to take a holistic look at the composition, structure and the welfare of Honourable Assembly Members," he stressed.

He also called the National Association of Local Government Authorities(NALAG) to expedite action on the procurement of motorbikes for the Assembly Members to facilitate their movements.

Story By: Michael Creg Afful

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