Majority Leader justifies new salaries for executive

Majority Leader Cletus Avoka has reacted to criticisms against Parliament's approval of new salaries for members of the Executive, insisting that MPs did not “carelessly approve the salaries”.

Parliament last week approved a monthly salary of 12,000 cedis for the President; GH¢10,500 for his vice and between 8,000 and 9,000 cedis for ministers and their deputies.

But the salary increases have been roundly criticized by a section of the public and some civil society groups as unjustified and insensitive.

Probably reacting to the widespread condemnation, President Mahama in a statement issued over the weekend asked Parliament to consider a review of the emoluments to ensure it is aligned more realistically with the original recommendations of the Professor Ewurama Addy Committee.

But speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show Monday, Mr. Avoka who is also the MP for Zebilla in the Upper East Region maintained that the decision by Parliament to approve the new pay, was an “aggressive improvement” of what existed under previous regimes.

He said the House had not yet received any communication from the president regarding his directive for a review of the salaries.