I won't take salary as MP - NDC Amenfi Central PC Joana Gyan Cudjoe

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Amenfi Central, Joana Gyan Cudjoe, has stated that she will not take a salary as a Member of Parliament if elected in the December 7 parliamentary election.

According to the businesswoman, she will donate the entire amount to a constituency welfare fund to be established to cater to the financial needs of her constituents.

Speaking on TV3 during a campaign programme dubbed "Women Manifesto," monitored by GhanaWeb, Joana Gyan Cudjoe said she's a self-made woman who will have no need for the amount paid to her as an MP, no matter how much the salary is.

"During my primary, I said that...I don't know how much they pay MPs. We are live on TV; I told every NDC executive that the salary I will be paid as an MP, I will donate it to the constituency. I will donate my salary to my people to set up a fund to support those who need financial help.

"I've already said that no matter the amount I will be paid as an MP, whether GHC 200,000 or GHC 300,000, I don't know... but what I promised is that if by God's grace I am elected as MP, I will donate the entire salary to the constituency fund."

She added: "I own my own business and have more than 4,000 workers I pay every month, and everyone knows how I support people financially. Why will I still take a salary from the State?"

A few months ago, Joana Gyan Cudjoe, a wealthy businesswoman, denied her involvement in illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey.

In a statement released on Sunday, September 29, Mrs. Cudjoe said such reports are "false and malicious" attempts by political opponents to tarnish her reputation.

She stated that she promotes "environmentally conscious and socially responsible practices" through her fully licensed gold export company, Golden Empire Legacy Limited.

However, two years ago, the politician, who is the wife of Andrew of the Keche music duo, openly admitted to media personality Deloris Frimpong Manso, popularly known as Delay, that she had been involved in galamsey since childhood.

In the televised interview, Mrs. Cudjoe claimed to earn over 700 million dollars annually from galamsey operations, with 65 million coming in monthly.

She also mentioned that some of her excavators and bulldozers were destroyed by the Akufo-Addo government in its fight against illegal mining.

KA

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