Former Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Dr. Charles Yves Wereko-Brobbey, has asked that the Ghanaian Parliament halts payment of salaries to First and Second Ladies until the legality of such payments are determined by the Supreme Court.
In a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey who described himself as a “retired citizen” pointed out that such payments are not constitutional and that bypassing the Ntiamoah-Baidu Committee recommended placing the First and Second Ladies on salary, Parliament has only formalized illegality.
“…If indeed Parliament has approved such payments, I will be grateful if you could educate me as to the legal authority that underpinned Parliament’s action. As far as I know, neither the first nor second ladies are elected offices or appointed under article 71 of the 4th republic of the constitution. It is my contention that every payment charged to the consolidated fund must be in line with the laws of the country,” Dr. Brobbey, aka “Tarzan stated.
The letter was also copied to both the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House.
Already, there are two suits before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Parliament’s approval of the recommendation to place the First and Second Ladies on the same salary as Cabinet Ministers.
The recommendation had been made by the Presidential Emoluments Committee set up by President Akufo-Addo to review remuneration to Article 71 officeholders.
In addition to recommending fat salaries for the President, Vice President and other Article 71 officeholders, the Committee which was Chaired by Prof. Ntiamoah- Baidu had also recommended that First and Second Ladies, who hitherto had been paid quarterly allowances by the State, be put on salaries.
The Committee had finished its work in 2020 and in January 2021, Parliament approved its report.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has since confirmed that First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has been drawing her salary.
Source: Whatsupnewsghana