A Governance Expert, Mr Jonathan Asante Okyere, has called for a review of EX-Gratia, following promises by former President, John Dramani Mahama to scrap the policy.
Mr John Dramani Mahama, said he would review Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution when he returns to power.
According to him, as soon as he steps into office in 2025, he will set up a committee to review Article 71 with the aim of scrapping it.
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Speaking at the launch of his campaign in Ho last week, Mr Mahama said in order to save the public purse and also get his government running on the path to recovery, he would depend on lean Ministers and deputy Ministers of about 60 to run his government.
Touching on the above on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Nana Yaw Fianko, Mr Jonathan Asante Okyere said, there are some people who have been included in the list even though they don’t qualify.
“In this current form, I am against it because there are ridiculous portfolios which have been added to the EX-Gratia that you will not understand and they are all at the Presidency,” he said.
He continued, “It ought to be reviewed. I have stated that there is the need to review it, either when you take once, you do not take again. If you are a parliamentarian, when you come back to parliament or you are re-elected, you do not take it again. But if you lose and you go and you do not come again, then you are given the ex-gratia.”
For Members of Parliament who are fortunate to win election for more than one, he said when they can take the ex gratia for once.
“The Parliamentarian who lost needs the money because he might have spent a lot of money and that can easily impoverish the person. We should find a way of compensating for that particular cost and I think that is fair. But for you to go for it every four years after winning because you are an Article 71 office holder, its not fair, ” he said.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
