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Bernard Okoe-Boye, former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku
Former Deputy Health Minister Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye has expressed disgust at dissenting views on paying salaries to the nation’s first and second ladies.
Parliament officially approved that the wives of the president and vice-president be remunerated for their services to the country.
However, before this arrangement was approved, the spouses of the president and vice-president were already receiving allowances.
This arrangement was instituted by the former Kufour government to ensure that first and second ladies are well looked after when their husbands are in government and out of power.
Opposition
But Parliament’s approval was met with widespread opposition from some members of the minority in parliament and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as well as the general public.
The NDC MP for Ningo Prampram constituency, Sam Nartey George, has indicated that he will go to court to challenge the government’s decision.
“I am an MP, I personally do not subscribe to this, whether it is a chairman of the NDC or a chairman of the NPP, your wife is not a public officer, your wife is your wife.
“Are we also going to say that the Wife of the Chief Justice, the wife of the President must also be paid?” Where to draw the line. Already, they are receiving allowances, they are getting state protection to the detriment of the taxpayer and I have no problem with that … “he submitted.
Already, NPP Bono regional chairman Abronye DC has taken the attorney general to the Supreme Court on this matter.
He is asking the Supreme Court for a “declaration that approval by Parliament to pay first and second ladies’ salaries is inconsistent with ARTICLE 71, CLAUSES 1 AND 2 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and, therefore, be declared null, void and unenforceable. ”
And also wishes the court to order that, “in accordance with Articles 108 and 178 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; parliament cannot, on its own initiative, initiate or approve the payment of such fees; which would necessarily be paid out of public funds; without a bill to this effect emanating from and presented by the government and duly adopted as law ”.
Dr. Okoe-Boye responds to the opposition
Addressing the issue on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo”, Dr Okoe Boye questioned why this issue should be a topic of discussion, stating that there is nothing new about the government’s decision to pay. the first and second ladies.
He indicated that the First Ladies of the Republic of previous governments to this day have already received stipends or what some call “wages”, but his problem is that it has always been done in secret.
He noted that what Parliament has now done is to formalize the payment ensuring that the receipt of first and second ladies’ allowances no longer went “under the table”, in which case no one knows how much they are receiving from the State.
For him, opening it is the best way.
He therefore lambasted opponents saying they were only looking to score political points.
“Is that how you want to build your country?” . . . How can you, for 28 years, give money to spouses or First Ladies. . he inquired.
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