Former Assembly members in the North Tongu District in the Volta Region are angry with government over delays in the payment of their Ex-gratia. They say though the assembly has made the necessary approvals, government is yet to release the funds, two months after the assembly was dissolved. One of the frustrated former assembly members told Joy News it was regrettable that people who were paid while serving the state, albeit some meager sitting allowances, should have their ex gratia delayed unjustifiably. He said the situation was a disincentive for people who render dedicated services to the nation. The former assembly member said he had regretted ever being an assemblyman. Another former assembly member in the district drew comparisons with Members of Parliament and wondered why MPs whom he said worked under far more comfortable conditions should be paid fat ex gratia while assembly members who operated in very precarious conditions should struggle to get their due. He said the conduct of government had reduced the assemblies level of governance to a nonentity. But the North Tongu District Chief Executive Bubuy Dzinedu told Joy News the members have gotten it all wrong. he explained that the delay was because the Local Government Ministry was yet to work out how the payment should be done. He said the assembly did not even know how much is due the former assembly members. Source: Joy News/Ghana