Gov’t to draft code of conduct for Assembly Members

Mr Akwasi Oppong- Fosu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said the Ministry would engage the Attorney General’s Department to draft a Code of Conduct for Assembly Members of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA’s).

This follows the act of insubordination and insulting behaviour the Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Nanan Kofi Senya exihited in public towards the KMA Chief Executive, Mr Kojo Bonsu in the full glare of the Minister.

Nana Senya is said to have refused to sign an official document relating to the release of the assembly’s share of the District Assemblies Common Fund for development projects in the metropolis when the MCE presented the documents to him for signing on the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

Mr Oppong-Fosu was in Kumasi to open a workshop for Presiding members in the Region.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, the Minister revealed that that the code of conduct will serve as a guide and ensure that Assembly members exhibits good leadership qualities and behaviour in playing their roles as members of the various Assemblies.

He said it is time that Ghanaians ensure that their leaders were good and show some leadership and personal values, especially public officials for people to emulate.

Mr Oppong-Fosu said the Ministry will not tolerate acts of gross disrespect from any staff of any the Assembly, “so long as I remain the Minster of Local Government and Rural Development”.

According to him “No matter the extents of the provocation, Nana Seya ought to have demonstrated modesty and temperaments, a good leader must be able to keep cold and hot issues to balance a situation”.

“I was with the Chief Executive of KMA when an incident occurred between the two officials over the signing of a document… the presiding member used all kinds of unprintable words and was physically restrained form going beyond the words he was using on the Chief Executive”.

Mr Oppong-Fosu said Section (3) clause 14 (1) sub-clause (e) of the Model Standing Orders for MMDA’s states that “The Presiding Member of an Assembly shall suspend a member for misconduct in respect of the members attendance for the remainder of the sittings or the meeting or for two consecutive meetings.

He said the code of conduct would also entail and specifies sanctions to Assembly members who commit offences and go contrary to laws of their Assemblies.

Mr Oppong-Fosu imposed a ban on Nana Seya form participating physically in all activities of the Ministry.

Nana Seya is reported to have apologised to Mr Bonsu for his unruly behaviour but the Minister insists, “that is not enough”

“He has apologized though but I don’t think that’s enough… the ban will remain in force”, he stressed.

Source: GNA