The Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak has said it is bogus to ask former First Ladies to refund f Parliament their legitimate and lawful allowances because First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has voluntarily decided to refund allowances she earned legitimately.
Reacting to calls by some New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials on former first lady Lordinas Maham to return all allowances paid her, the legislator the monies paid to Mrs. Mahama are “legitimate, recognised and lawful allowance she has received over the period.”
The First Lady has returned all allowances paid her since 2017 following the backlash from a section of Ghanaians over approval for her and the Second Lady to be paid salaries.
After this, some NPP officials including, General Secretary, John Boadu, is asking Mrs. Mahama to return her allowances paid her.
But Dr.Apaak says the allowances paid Mrs. Akufo-Addo and Mrs. Bawumia are lawful and never a source of controversy.
He said no one is contending the allowances received by the First and Second ladies but rather the salaries recommended by the Emoluments Committee which in his view is unconstitutional “so anyone who makes that call is making a bogus call”.
“If these two have decided to refund it [allowance] well and good but that cannot be a basis to say Madam Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Madam Theresa Kufuor and Madam Lordina Mahama should refund the lawful allowances they have received of the period,” he added.
In his view, the decision by the two to return the money would not be sufficient to make them withdraw the case.
“What they are seeking to refund is not the issue under contention. That is not the concern of Ghanaians, so they may choose to return it [the money] voluntarily. But that does not address the reasons for which I and Dafeamekpor are in court. That provision in the report could be given effect away from the public eye, and so they may say they reject what was to come to them, but their public rejection is not law until a court pronounces and quashes it. I want to plead with the Chief Justice and the Lordships of the Supreme Court to consider the public interest and make room for a hearing so that this matter can be brought to a proper closure,” he said.
Mr. Apaak and the Member of Parliament for the South Dayi Constituency, Rockson Dafeamakpor, have jointly filed a suit invoking the original jurisdiction of the apex court to rule that the committee’s recommendation is unconstitutional.
What the Two MPs want
Among other things, the two MPs want a declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of the Constitution, 1992, spouses of the President and the Vice President are not Article 71 office holders for the purposes of receipt of wages and emoluments.
The two further want an order declaring the recommendations in respect of privileges, facilities, salaries, and allowances payable to the 1st Lady and the wife of the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana as unconstitutional and void.
They also want an order restraining the President of the Republic of Ghana or any other arm, ministry, department, or agency of the Executive, from implementing any recommendations of the Prof Ntiamoah-Baidu Committee which pertains to the 1st Lady and the wife of the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
