The Ho Municipal Assembly has elected a new Presiding Member, with the ceremony also sparking renewed calls for reforms in Ghana’s local governance system.
Mr Mawunyo Agbe was elected Presiding Member of the Ho Municipal Assembly after securing the support of Assembly Members, who voted to entrust him with the responsibility of presiding over the Assembly’s deliberations.
Speaking at the event, the James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, congratulated the newly elected Presiding Member and urged members of the Assembly to work together to advance development in the municipality.
“We are proud of you. Let us continue to work together to advance development in the municipality,” he said.
Mr Gunu commended Assembly Members for their dedication to serving their communities and acknowledged the increasing demands placed on their roles in local governance.
He noted that the work of Assembly Members had evolved from what was once largely a voluntary and part-time responsibility into a more demanding role that requires greater commitment.
The Regional Minister also highlighted the introduction of monthly stipends for Assembly Members as an important step in recognising their contributions to grassroots governance. He expressed appreciation to John Mahama for the initiative, describing it as a significant acknowledgment of the work undertaken by Assembly Members across the country.
“It is not only about the amount involved, but the significance of acknowledging the work Assembly Members do across the country,” he said.
During his address, Mr Gunu also used the occasion to call for a national conversation on possible reforms to the tenure and election process of Presiding Members of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He suggested that the current two-year tenure for Presiding Members should be reviewed and potentially extended to four years, explaining that such a change would require a constitutional amendment.
According to him, the election of Presiding Members remains one of the most challenging aspects of the local governance system because candidates must obtain a two-thirds majority of the total membership of the Assembly to be elected.
Mr Gunu explained that even candidates who contest unopposed must still secure the required two-thirds majority vote to qualify for the position.
He described the arrangement as an important democratic safeguard but said it was necessary for stakeholders to examine whether adjustments could strengthen the system.
Mr Gunu indicated that the matter had also attracted attention at the national level, noting that the Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, had expressed similar views on the need to review the current arrangement.
He therefore encouraged broader national dialogue on the issue to determine the most effective way to improve local governance structures in the country.
