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The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana defines the category of public office holders and their respective emoluments. Articles 70 and 71 of the aforementioned constitution respectively define the category and the emoluments. It is undeniable that since the return of constitutionalism under the Fourth Republic of Ghana, the First and Second Ladies have benefited from taxpayer money in the form of allowances. Critically appraising said convention, was this the way forward as a country?
It is contempt to consider the payment of the first and second ladies. Key questions need to be asked; is it their active involvement in the political front to help ensure the victory of their husbands?
Participate in the national function in the midst of transmission and high protocol?
Do you like traveling abroad with their husbands?
We cannot continue to create a constitutional crisis as the President mixes romance and public service.
What are the specific functions of second and first ladies?
Are we not interested in auditing them and even starting to pay them?
Are they not supposed to be accountable to the state?
Who should then hold them accountable?
Will they always run their foundation alongside the “so-called” public office holders?
Leaving the office of the first ladies to the executive to use discretionary powers to pay them is always problematic as they can even advance allowances that could be 10 times higher than the salaries offered.
Again, we can’t even begin to think about deciding to institutionalize the office of first ladies without a legal basis. There should be a law to regulate the office if we as a country wish, as this decision is not based on the law according to Articles 70 and 71 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Our microscopic lenses should be zoomed in on other forms of marriages contracted under customary law and Muslim belief. According to a traditionalist custom, a man marries up to 20 women while a Muslim marries up to four women. So what happens to a future president or vice president who has four legitimate wives? Will everything be paid for?
In this era of COVID-19 where the President is constantly appealing to all significant Ghanaians and descendants to face the difficult economic environment due to his poor leadership, he is once again considering a proposal that will give his wife a check for bonus for Christmas.
In the critical moment of our life as a country with growing inequalities, absolute deprivation of social amenities, insecurity, youth unemployment, debt stress, etc., the slogan “protect public funds” from the government. government cannot focus on enrichment by paying wages to first and second ladies and even backdating the payments to 2017.
While elsewhere, the first ladies continued to engage in active service. The wife of the President of France Emmanuel Macron is still a university professor and we are interested in paying a few seconds for ladies who are only interested in makeup.
The Ghanaian public and civil servants are still crumbling in poverty and a meager pay rise (4%) is being offered as the president and his government consider paying the premium for the first and second spouse.
BY Tahiru Lukman
Author, development consultant and young activist
E-mail: [email protected]
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