NDC Youth wing to challenge the approval of salaries for First, Second Ladies at SC-Opare Addo
The statement says that the committee erred in its recommendation and describes the NPP majority approval in parliament as a ‘bully approval.’
The NDC Youth wing is lacing its boot to invoke in the coming days the jurisdiction of the Highest Court of the land on the approval of the Prof.Yaa Ntiamoah Badu led committee on emoluments for the first and second ladies of the land to be paid monthly salaries by the state.
It indicates that the decision is surprising because it is coming at a time that the President of the Republic has admonished all Ghanaians to make sacrifices and coupled with the introduction of ‘nuisance’ taxes.
Furthermore, it describes the decision to pay the first and second ladies as a further drain on the consolidated fund with needless expenditure.
These were contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, by the Youth wing of the party and signed by Mr.George Opare Addo, the National Youth Organizer of Ghana’s largest opposition party, NDC.
The statement also finds the attempt to institutionalize the payment of salaries to the spouses of the President and the Vice President an attack on the constitution of the country.
Additionally, it indicates that the provision of Article 71 of the constitution is elaborate and unambiguous on public officials bound to be paid from the consolidated fund.
In conclusion, the statement says that the committee erred in its recommendation and describes the NPP majority approval in parliament as a ‘bully approval.’
“It is our considered view that the committee erred in making such recommendation. The bully approval process by the NPP majority in the last Parliament and subsequent acquiescence of President Akuffo-Addo of the recommendation is an unjustifiable assault on the Constitution which must not go unchallenged,” it concluded.
Background
The five-member committee led by Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu was set up in June 2019 by President Akufo-Addo to make recommendations to him and Parliament on the salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities and privileges available to Article 71 officeholders.
They were charged to make recommendations in respect of emoluments and other privileges for Article 71 officeholders, as specified under the Constitution; and also to examine any other relevant matter which the committee deemed appropriate to its work.
