Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has confirmed that the government is fulfilling its commitment to pay monthly allowances to assembly members across the country’s 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Briefing Parliament’s Government Assurances Committee on Thursday, Mr Ibrahim said President John Dramani Mahama, in 2025, pledged to allocate GH¢100 million for the payment of assembly members’ allowances.

He said by December 31, 2025, the government had released GH¢107 million to the Ministry’s Financial Controller, which was subsequently disbursed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) for payment to both elected and appointed assembly members.

The Minister said there were more than 9,000 assembly members nationwide, comprising 6,272 elected and 2,830 appointed members.

He said each assembly member was entitled to a taxable monthly allowance of GH¢1,300.

Mr Ibrahim disclosed that funds for the first-quarter allowances for 2026 had been released this week and would soon be paid to beneficiaries.

Assembly members play a key role in Ghana’s local governance system by serving as the link between communities and district assemblies. They mobilise citizens, monitor development projects, and promote accountability at the grassroots level.

For years, assembly members have advocated financial support to sustain their work, as many perform their duties without salaries or adequate logistical resources.

The allowance scheme was introduced to recognise their contributions and ease the financial burden associated with their responsibilities.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader decentralisation agenda aimed at strengthening local governance, improving accountability, and enhancing the capacity of assemblies to deliver development more effectively.