Lawyer Joseph Kwasi Asuming, who is arguably the longest serving Presiding Member (PM) of an assembly in the country, has asked government to pay monthly allowances to assemblymen and women in the country from the consolidated fund.
He observed that assembly members play vital roles in the development of the country at the grassroots but they are not paid by the state, a development he claimed tends to demoralise them; thus, preventing them from working hard for their various electoral areas.
Lawyer Asuming, who has been the PM for the Bosomtwe Assembly since 2001, with the exception of 2005 to 2007 when he was studying at the law school, therefore stressed on the need for assemblymen and women to be paid to serve as motivation.
He was of the view that knowledgeable and experienced people would begin to avail themselves of assembly positions in their various localities when government begins to pay remuneration to assembly members for their efforts in developing the country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY GUIDE, Asuming charged professionals such as lawyers, medical doctors, engineers and architects, among others, to vie for assembly positions to help expedite the development of their various localities.
He said the effective development of the country should be the prime concern of all and sundry, noting that nobody should stand aside and watch when it comes to the development of mother Ghana.
Lawyer Asuming, who is currently the manager of the Asokwa Small Taxpayer Office of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), said he has dedicated his life to the assembly system over the years because he realised that proper development begins from the grassroots.
He said his people had since 1998 always voted for him as their assemblyman because he is God-fearing, development oriented, visionary, respectful and a team player who has over the years managed to unite his people to champion the development of Woarakose/Onwe Electoral Area.
Lawyer Asuming, who was recently elected for the seventh time as the PM for the Bosomtwe Assembly, stated that his legal background and his expertise as a tax revenue man as well his experience in the assembly, have often helped him to win the PM position.
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