Emotions flared at the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly’s meeting in Asesewa on Thursday, August 14, 2025, as Assembly Members expressed concerns to management over the long-delayed payment of their end-of-service benefit, commonly known as ex-gratia.
Members from the previous Assembly say they have waited nearly two years for the statutory payment, yet there is still no sign of the money.
The frustration boiled over when the Coordinating Director, Mr. Donkor Nketia, told Members that the Assembly had no immediate means to raise the amount owed.
“We cannot give a specific date to effect payment since our promise is with regards to a debt we are expecting from a debtor,” Mr. Nketia explained, referencing a yet-to-be-received payment.
But his comments did not sit well with Members. Some openly questioned whether management was committed about honoring the obligation at all.
“Enough of the promise,” said Hon. Daniel Angmor Tettey, Assembly Member for Dawatrim Electoral Area.
Adding, “If your reference is with regard to the ECG debt, I will say that you let us forget about it because it has been long overdue.”
According to Mr. Nketia, the Assembly’s limited Internally Generated Funds (IGF) make it impossible to meet the GH¢90,000 total required. Under the arrangement, each of the 48 Assembly Members is entitled to GH¢2,000.
In July, a group calling itself Concerned Past Assembly Members petitioned the Assembly, lamenting that:
“This payment, which is a statutory entitlement, has regrettably remained outstanding for a considerable period, almost two years after leaving office.”
The petition also noted that the delay is “causing significant financial hardship and distress among former Assembly Members.”
Thursday’s discussions ended without any resolution or payment date. While the ex-gratia debate dragged on, some Members shifted the conversation to updates on the distribution of fertilisers and farm inputs to farmers during the last dry spell, under the previous government.
Away from the ex-gratia, there was one notable development: the new District Chief Executive, Hon. Emmanuel Kwesi Lawer, inaugurated the Public Relations and Complaint Committee (PRCC) in line with the Local Governance Act, Act 936, as amended.
The eight-member committee, chaired by Presiding Member Hon. Michael Konotey, also includes Hon. Daniel Tettey Kwesi – Assembly Member for Asesewa Community EF, Mr. Eric Kwesi Yaany – Director, National Commission for Civic Education, Rev. Divine Nartey – Christian representative, alongside representatives from the Islamic community and the traditional council.
While the DCE awaits to present his sessional address, the meeting drew dignitaries including the Divisional Chief for Asesewa, Nene Ofei Tagbajah I, and his Queen mother, Manye Kadi Yumu I.
For now, however, the biggest question lingers unanswered: when will the ex-gratia finally be paid?
