The National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr George Opare Addo says no First lady in her right sense will ascribe to the payment of huge amounts of money as an allowance if she thinks about the people and loves the country.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced on Wednesday that Parliament has approved the decision to pay the First and Second Lady of the country GHC21,000 monthly allowance.
He added that the salary will be backdated to 2017 to date which will make the First Lady, Rebecca Akuffo Addo earn about GHC7.4Million.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah explained that an arrangement that was introduced by former President John Agyekum Kufuor during the start of his Presidency in 2000 had seen spouses of Presidents and Vice Presidents, since then, enjoy allowances, though there was no formal documentation to support that.
The allowances given the two ladies of the executive were considered as part of the privileges of the President and Vice President.
“The truth of the matter is that all surviving spouses of Heads of State, current and former, have always received salaries. Lordina Mahama, Naadu Mills, Matilda Amissah-Arthur, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Faustina Acheampong, Fulera Liman etc have all been receiving salaries since President Kufuor’s time,” he said.
This outrageous decision sparked a lot of controversy in the country with several people wondering if it’s necessary for such a hasty decision to be made especially since the first lady of the United States, Jill Biden doesn’t receive salary.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr George Opare Addo said it was against the constitution and a breach or Article 71 of the constitution for the First Lady and the Second Lady to receive monthly salary.
He said although they are given some allowances and the Minority does not have any problem with it, they do not have a job description and therefore should not be entitled to any monthly salary.
“Everywhere we go, we will say that it is Rebecca Akufo and Samira Bawumia’s deal No first lady in her right sense and loves Ghana under this harsh economic condition will ascribe to this payment,” he said.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
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