Deputy Minister Assures Assembly Members of Imminent Payment of Outstanding Allowances

Edited by: Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah – Paaps – 

The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Odoley Sowah, has assured Assembly Members across the country that their outstanding first-quarter 2026 allowances will be paid in the coming days.

According to the Deputy Minister, the payments are currently being processed by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, with efforts underway to ensure their prompt release.

Hon. Odoley Sowah gave the assurance on Wednesday during the launch of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) Exercise Book Distribution Initiative at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Conference Hall.

She also disclosed that the Ministry is engaging the leadership of NALAG on plans to procure motorbikes for Assembly Members to improve their mobility and enhance service delivery within their respective communities.

The Deputy Minister urged Assembly Members to continue using dialogue to address concerns affecting their welfare, stressing that constructive engagement would promote the smooth administration of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Earlier, the President of NALAG, Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, appealed to the government to expedite the payment of the outstanding allowances, describing them as critical to enabling Assembly Members to effectively engage with their communities and support vulnerable residents.

He noted that many Assembly Members cover vast and difficult electoral areas under challenging conditions, reiterating the Association’s call for the provision of motorbikes to facilitate their work.

According to him, motorbikes have become an operational necessity rather than a luxury, given the vital role Assembly Members play as the closest representatives of government at the grassroots.

Hon. Asiedu Adjei expressed optimism that the government would reaffirm its commitment to strengthening local governance by ensuring the prompt payment of the outstanding allowances and providing the necessary logistical support.

The discussions took place during the launch of NALAG’s nationwide exercise book distribution initiative, which aims to support primary school pupils across all 16 regions under the theme, “Local Governance for Educational Transformation.”