The Economic Fighters League has become the latest movement to commend the patriotic act by the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, to return the sum of GH¢365,392.67 paid to him as ex gratia for his tenure as a Council of State Member for the period 2017-2021.
The overlord of the Anlo state released a statement on Monday, June 6 to announce his decision of returning the money while clarifying that the payment was not in any way meant to trap him because it was a payment that was made to other members of the Council of State spanning the period.
Fighters in a statement signed by the movement’s national spokespersons Nii Aryee Opare and John Koomson wrote: “The Economic Fighters League wishes to commend the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, for his decision to return to the state more than GH¢365,000 being ex-gratia payment for his work as a member of the Council of State from 2017 to 2021.”
The statement further said the King’s act goes to reinforce the calls by the Economic Fighters League and the many other Ghanaians for an entirely new constitution to replace the current one which they describe as being flawed and favors just a few people.
It also admonished the returned money to be put to good course and not treated like the many other untraceable funds.
“The State must put the money returned by Togbe Afede XIV to good use. That amount can pay the allowances of up to 600 National Service Personnel whose payments are in arrears. It must be redirected there immediately.”
The statement further said the decision of Togbe Afede XIV should be the precursor for others who are also entitled to this draining emolument to reject and call for a total abolition of Article 71
“We call on all other beneficiaries of the immoral Article 71 which must be abolished in the New Constitution to follow the example of Togbe Afede especially as the criminal mismanagement of our economy has led to unbearable levels of hardship.
“While commending Togbe Afede, we will like to encourage him to go beyond this praiseworthy act of conscience and join our call for a New Constitution, which will remove Article 71 and spare the nation the cycle of abuse of the public purse.”
Background
Togbe Afede XIV raised concerns according to a letter he issued dated June 6, 2022 when he discovered some payments were made to his account while he was filing his tax returns for the year ending 2021.
Statements from his bankers confirmed the payment had come from the Council of State and was meant to be his ex-gratia for serving on the Council for the period between 2017 and 2021.
He said the payment was inappropriate because he was entitled to a salary and other allowances for the period and doesn’t see why he must be double paid after his tenure.
By Kabah Atawoge|Accra, Ghana