$20m already paid for ex-gratia awards

An amount of about US$20 million has already been paid into the accounts of former public officials including former President Kufuor, according to JOYFM

The monies were paid by the Bank of Ghana.

The Finance Committee of Parliament, chaired by Mr. Moses Asaga, MP for Nabdam Constituency approved the payment of the end of service awards without consultation with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Asaga signed the document for the payment of the monies from the consolidated funds which has already being effected and he did that without consultation with the President nor the Transitional Team.

President Mills has ordered investigations into the matter and the Accountant-Generals Department has been instructed to halt further payment of the monies.

Mr. Moses Asaga who was earlier nominated for the ministerial position of Water Resources, Works and Housing had his nomination withdrawn today, February 6, 2009. The withdrawal was announced in a statement signed by the President’s Press Secretary, Mahama Ayariga and issued to the Ghanaian press and media while some nominees were being vetted in Parliament. No reasons were given for the withdrawal.

The announcement of the ex-gratia awards was greeted with shock and consternation by a large number of Ghanaians who thought the package was vulgar and obscene. The public reaction forced some MPs to renounce the action and distance themselves from the approval committee and Parliament subsequently decided to review the package.