"Assemblies Should Not See MPs as Competitors"

July 15, 2026

Dominic Napare, the Member of Parliament for Sene East, has called for an end to the perceived rivalry between Members of Parliament and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), urging both parties to focus on collaborative development rather than a contest of power.

In an interview, the lawmaker emphasized that debates over who holds more authority between MPs and MMDCEs are counterproductive and distract from the primary goal of serving the people.

Collaboration Over Competition

“We know we all have a common purpose: meeting the developmental needs of the people,” Napare stated. He stressed that while MPs do not have voting rights in the Assembly, their contributions remain vital to the Assembly’s operations.

“Assemblies should see MPs as members of the Assembly. We need not see ourselves as competing for anything; rather, we need to collaborate and see what we can do for our people in terms of development,” he added.

Clarifying the Role of MPs vs. MMDAs

Napare, who serves on the Local Government Committee, noted that his engagements consistently encourage harmony between the two offices. He clarified that the MP’s Common Fund is designed to complement, not compete with, the Assembly’s broader development agenda.

“The Assemblies are to totally develop the area because they are the authority clothed with the total development of the area. Ours is to support them,” he explained. “What is given to the MP as Common Fund is to complement their development and solve urgent emergency interventions.”

Addressing Public Misconceptions

The MP acknowledged that misunderstandings often arise over the allocation of the Common Fund, particularly regarding its size and purpose. He urged the public to recognize the distinct roles of each office.

“We know the MP cannot compete with the MMDCEs. What we are given is much lower than what the Assemblies are given. The funds are not for the Chief Executives—they are for the people—just as the MP’s funds are to address basic needs like health, sanitation, and school fees,” he noted.

Napare concluded by calling on the public to understand that the MMDAs remain the primary engine of district development, with MPs playing a supportive role in emergency and basic needs interventions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com