Mahama Kicks Against Placement Of First And Second Ladies On Salaries

Former President John Mahama has joined in the criticism and resistance to the Akufo-Addo government’s decision to place First and Second Ladies on salaries of Article 71 officeholders.

In an opinion piece, he reiterates the point that the decision is unconstitutional.

“The spouses of the President and Vice President are not captured among Article 71 Office Holders and therefore there is no legal or constitutional basis for it”, he wrote. 

He points out the move is an unnecessary burden that jettisons an already existing arrangement to provide quarterly allowance to all sitting and former First and Second Ladies.

“…The practice has also included the payment of quarterly allowances to the surviving spouses of former Presidents, former Vice Presidents and former Heads of State, which practice has been appreciated by the beneficiaries as a token from the State,” he said.

But Mr. Mahama also questioned why Parliament approved the Ntiamoah-Baidu Committee’s recommendation for spouses of Presidents and Vice Presidents to be placed on salary.

The Committee had recommended that all sitting and former First and Second Ladies be paid on the same salary as Cabinet Ministers. While Cabinet Ministers will cease taking salaries when they leave office, the First and Second Ladies will take the salary for life.

Mr. Mahama further made a case for the establishment of an Independent Emoluments Commission (IEC) as recommended by the Constitution Review Commission and endorsed by the Edu-Bandoh and Ntiamoa-Baidu Committees. 

He agrees, that such an establishment will not only stop the practice of setting up a new emoluments committee every four years and coming up with varying recommendations but also ensure that salary administration in Ghana is rationalized and equity is brought into the system.