‘Assembly members are non-partisan’
Some members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have disassociated themselves from a statement by a faction of the assembly claiming that over 70 per cent of assembly members within the Greater Accra Region had endorsed the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
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They said they found the contents of that press statement distasteful and in direct conflict with the fundamental principles of the local government system, which stipulates that assembly members should not be partisan.
Background
On October 4, 2016, a faction of assembly members from the AMA held a press conference and indicated that over 70 per cent of assembly members in the 16 districts in the region had unanimously endorsed the NPP flag bearer.
Addressing a press conference in Accra recently, the Assembly Member for New Mamprobi, Mr Leslie Anim, said they did not purport to speak for any of the other assemblies within the Greater Accra Region but for the AMA they could state with certainty that the said release did not reflect their position.
Local Government Act
“We are well aware of the provisions of the Constitution and the Local Government Act (Act 462) and will not associate with any political party or do the bidding of any political party,” he said.
He said the conveners of the press conference made reference to Section 10 of the Local Government Act (Act 462) as the fulcrum of their stance to declare support for a presidential candidate and his policies, but it was without doubt that they did not understand or appreciate the provisions of the said Act.
Mr Anim, who is also the Chairman of the Justice and Security subcommittee of the AMA, said the provisions of the 1992 Constitution and Local Government Act clearly positioned assembly members above partisan politics and entreated them to work with all political parties to ensure the development of their respective areas.
“After a cursory analysis of the statement by our colleagues, any discerning mind would come to the conclusion that they do not understand or appreciate their roles as assembly members and have allowed themselves to be used as pawns by certain political agents,” he said.
Rockefeller Foundation
On the false statement circulating on various platforms that the Rockefeller Foundation had given the AMA $100 million which the Chief Executive had misappropriated, he was emphatic that it was a calculated attempt to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije.
He said the agreement with the Rockefeller Foundation did not include money but a strategic partnership to ensure that Accra built the necessary capacity to survive, adopt and grow, no matter the shocks and hindrance.