National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Ningo Prampram constituency, Sam Nartey George will be heading to court to challenge the government’s decision to pay wives of the President and Vice President.
He said the decision is ‘unnecessary’ – claiming the state needs money for other important things.
Spouses of the President and Vice President will officially enjoy salaries from the state.
This was after the government adopted a recommendation by an emolument committee which was approved by the seventh parliament.
Sam George in an interview on NEAT FM’s morning show, ‘Ghana Montie’ said an agreement was never approved by the seventh parliament.
"As far as I am aware there was no arrangement for that, the President's wife and the vice President's wife are not article 71 holders."
"I am a Member of Parliament, I personally do not subscribe to that, whether it is an NDC President or an NPP President, your wife is not a Public Officer, you wife is your wife. Are we also going to say that the Spouse of the Chief Justice , the spouse of the Speaker must also be paid? Where do we draw the line. Already they get allowances, they get protection from the state at the expense of the taxpayer and I don't have a problem with that . . . there are certain things that the political parties we must think . . ." he argued.
" . . I am against it, I am not in support for it . . . we will go to court on this matter . . . it is unquestionable," he emphasized.
The recommendation for payment of allowances to current and former first and second ladies started when the 4th Republic came into being, but was not made official.
However, the Akufo-Addo government, acknowledging that the practice was good, sougth to make it formal, thus seeking the approval of both sides of the House, which was given.
According to the Information Ministry, Lordina Mahama, Ernestina Naadu Mills, Matilda Amissah-Arthur, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Faustina Acheampong, Fulera Limann, Christiana Afrifa, Theresa Kufuor, Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama, Emily Akuffo, plus the current first and second ladies were being paid monthly allowances by the state.
This is contrary to the recent brouhaha about payment of salaries to only Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Samira Bawumia.
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
About the giving of money ( allowance) to the wifes of former presidents and current presidents. I wonder why and how some Ghanaians behave like ostriches . Please do we all know how much iS spent on them for their travels in the country and around the world, do we know how much is given them To go for the pragramme we invite them? No, we do not know, BUT they are given moneys. The government wants it to be formalize so it becomes known and we can all scrutinize it when they overspent and we are complaining? HMM so we prefer it to be secret ? EII. Then some small boy mp who helped to make the policy will come out to complain just to make fame. hmmm KEEP PAYING THEM SECRETLY . Ghana dieee
Please , it seems most people are complaining about the car loan for MPs because you are kids and just resent voters, For your educations, IT IS A LOAN FOR THE MPs to repay back taking at source from their salary EACH MONTH. IT IS NOT FOR FREE. Not all the MPs will take the loans because they may have cars already. The government is just to serve as a guarantor for the loans for the MPS to take the loans from the bank. If you feel you need a car, just go to any bank to pick up a loan. Your employers will serve as guarantors. PLEASE SOME OF YOU SHOULD LEARN
Who told you they care about providing quality education so they could provide for schools with modern equipments to help students’ educational development? They think about themselves as elitist in society. What’s wrong if an MP takes Uber to parliament as most of us do? Well, I will answer myself: they are better humans than the rest of us.
Sam George, the policy was passed by the last parliament which you were part. Now that its implementation is due, you are here crying. Why did you pass it as a parliament in the first place? You guys have created the impression that this was the sole decision of the current president to create unnecessary tension and hatred. Hypocrisy at its peak.
Somebody should tell Sam George that this thing will come back to hunt him
They should also pay spouses of civil servants if that is the case, SHAME
Only poor country like Ghana will pay wives of presidents who are not elected.. American president wife Jill Biden still working outside but poor country like Ghana want to pay presidents wives...They are even giving $100,000 each to 275 MPs to just buy cars. This money can build schools, hospitals, pay teachers and nurses, do the roads and also the destroyed drinking water for the people. Even this moneys are all loans.. what a sad country
Ver my well, sir! Are you also going to go to court about MPs car loan? Double standard.