In a shocking turn of events, the Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Abronye DC, has sued the government for the recently announced presidential salaries.
Abronye has filed a suit seeking a judgement that the recommendations by the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee that the 1st and 2nd ladies receive salaries be stopped.
Abronye has reportedly filed suit at the Supreme Court.
His case is similar to another suit filed by two NDC MPs seeking similar reliefs.
South Dayi MP Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor and Builsa South MP Dr Clement Apaak have filed suit with the Supreme Court to have the announced salaries overturned.
The recommendations from the Committee set up by the President was that Presidential spouses are to be paid Ghc 21,000 every month, in line with what is earned by other Article 71 officeholders in Ghana.
Not only are the first lady and the 2nd lady to receive these salaries henceforth, but it is also supposed to be backdated to 2017.
Per calculations, that entitles each lady to just about Ghc 1m.
Ghanaians have kicked against the move and the two MPs have not taken it to court.
According to myjoyonline, the reliefs they seek include:
- A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee appointed by the President under Article 71(1), only had jurisdiction to make recommendations in respect of salaries, allowances payable, facilities and privileges of Article 71 office holders under the 1992 Constitution.
- A further declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee had no jurisdiction, mandate or authority to make any recommendations in respect of salaries, allowances payable, facilities and privileges of persons other than persons specified under Article 71 of 1992 Constitution.
- A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71(1) of the 1992 Constitution, the Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee exceeded its jurisdiction, mandate and authority when it purported to make 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.
- A further declaration that the recommendations of the Committee, to the extent that it pertains to the 1st Lady and the wife of the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, are null, void and of no effect.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Any further Order(s) or direction(s) as this Honourable Court may deem necessary.
Joy News adds that: “A second writ seeking similar reliefs has also been filed, this time by the NPP’s Kwame Baffoe popularly known as “Abronye”,”
Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com