Former First Lady, Ernestina Naadu Mills, has reportedly rejected the Akufo-Addo government’s decision to place her along with other First ladies on the payroll.
The widow of late former President, John Evans Atta Mills, is said to have made remarks to the effect that the offer is indecent at a time that the country is broke.
The report is coming in the wake of public furore over President Akufo-Addo’s approval of salaries for sitting and former First and Second Ladies after a Presidential Emoluments Committee that Mr. Akufo-Addo set up recommended it.
Chaired by Prof. Ntiamoah-Baidu, the five-member Committee had recommended that First and Second Ladies be placed on the same payroll as Cabinet Ministers.
A New Patriotic Party (NPP) dominated Parliament has since approved the recommendation with President Akufo-Addo subsequently giving it Presidential approval.
However, the public has been unhappy about the decision especially at a time that the rest of the Ghanaian people have been urged to tighten their belts and brave austere measures including an avalanche of taxes to help the country recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Madam Naadu Mills is reported to have opined that the money that the government has decided to pay the First and Second Ladies could be put to better use in building infrastructure in the hinterlands.