The President of the Ghana Association of Assembly Members (GAAM), Mr. Frank Nelson Ackah, has acknowledged that several assembly members solicit monetary payments from nominated Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) prior to approving them.
In an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he stated that although this practice is unhealthy, it has become a normalised aspect that is progressively undermining the approval process.
He emphasised that while the president conducts due diligence before nomination s, the approval process is marred by this concerning trend.
According to Mr. Ackah, he has firsthand experience of the process and attributes it to various factors, including unjustified reasons, partisan political interests, and personal motivations.
Mr. Ackah noted that the association has intervened in some instances, advising assembly members to prioritise the interests of their electorates over partisan or personal agendas.
He stressed that assembly members are representatives of the people who elected them and should not allow the assembly to be politicised.
Mr. Ackah further stated that he has personally witnessed assembly members demanding payment before approving nominees, which fosters corruption and encourages nominees to recoup their losses after assuming office.
“The situation can be attributed to several factors, some of which may not be justified, while others may be influenced by partisan political interests or personal reasons. The most important thing to consider is that the president would have conducted due diligence before appointing a nominee, but the worrying trend occurs during the approval process.
We have had to intervene in some situations, encouraging Assembly members not to let partisan or personal interests cloud their judgement. As assembly members, they represent people who voted for them, and they should consider those people’s interests. The assembly should not be politicised because members are not elected along partisan lines.
I have personally witnessed assembly members demanding money before approving nominees, which breeds corruption. If the nominee gives money to them before assuming office, they will likely find ways to recoup it. Instead, it would be best to vote for the person based on merit so that the person will later appreciate them for their approval.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
