Lawyer Asks Assemblymen To Be Mindful Of The Law

Mr Leslie Anim, a Lawyer and Assembly member for New Mamprobi, has warned colleague assemblymen to be mindful of the law and not to associate themselves with any political party.

He also reminded the assembly members of Articles 247 and 248 of the 1992 Constitution, section seven of the Local Government Act 462, which clearly states that the assembly system is non-partisan and its members must not be collectively associate in any way with any political party.

Mr Anim, who is also the Chairman of the Justice and Security Sub-committee of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly said this at a news conference in Accra to remind Assembly members in Accra to uphold the mandate of the electorate and not to be used as political pawns.

He expressed regret how elected assembly members defy the very provision governing their office and declare support for a presidential or parliamentary candidate of political parties.

“If the law which established our office as an elected members prohibits the association with any political party then I finds the statements of some assembly member distasteful and an indirect conflict with the fundamental principles of the Local Government system,”, he stated.

He asked whether assembly member now want to give the powers given to them to be responsible for the overall development of the districts back to the central government.

Mr Anim entreated all assembly members to unite and rally behind their Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies Chief Executives to facilitate their development agenda.

He asked them not to be derailed by partisan politics.