Aspiring assembly members promise to be accountable to electorate

Ashaiman, Dec. 22, GNA - Four aspiring Assembly Members for the Niim= an and Moniobaanye Electoral Areas in the Ashaiman Municipality have promised the to be accountable to the electorate. Mr Joseph Abo Mensah, 29, Secretary to the Ashaiman Divisional Council= , Mr Charles Kissi, 30-year-old Managing Director of Media Consult, and Madam Harriet Quansah, 47-year-old Businesswoman and the past Assembly Member, ar= e contesting for the Niiman Electoral Area seat.

Madam Angela Peace Worname, a 44-year-old beautician, is standing for the Moniobaanye Electoral Area. The four made the promise during a Governance Issues Forum (GIF) platform organised for aspiring district assembly members by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) at Ashaiman on Tuesday. It was under the theme; 93Promoting Good Governance at the Local Leve= l: The Role of the Assemblyman and Woman." The four aspirants stated that they were prepared to work and meet wit= h the Unit Committee and Zonal Council members as well as other associations in the area before and after assembly meetings. They also stated that they would hold periodic meetings with residents to account for them on developmental issues in their areas. The Aspiring Members said it was not their responsibility to provide social amenities but promised to lobby the assembly and other organizations to help improve upon developments in their areas.

On the challenges facing the two electoral areas, the aspirants mentioned drainage, un-tarred roads, streetlights, lack of security, armed robbery, sanitation and lack of recreational facilities, among others. They all urged the electorate to vote for them during the December 28 District Assembly Election since, according to them, they were the best candidates to help solve the developmental problems of their areas. Mr. Douglas Quartey, Programme Officer for GIF, said out of the 170 districts in the country, 15 which included Ashaiman, had been selected by his outfit from eight regions to participate in the forum.

Mr. Quartey said the forum was part of innovative mechanisms developed to improve participation in the forthcoming District Assembly Election. He said the objective of the GIF election platform was to create space and interaction between communities and their potential representatives. He added that it was also to afford the aspiring candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their preparedness to play their role in promoting good local governance.