Parliament debunks reports about Speaker’s rent

Parliament says Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye has only been a beneficiary of a monthly stipend for rent as he waited for the completion of renovation works on his official residence.

It insists that the Speaker, by statute, is not to be paid any rent advance.

This comes in the wake of reports in the Ghana Palaver and Daily Post Friday edition that Professor Oquaye took money as rent advance despite being provided official residence.

“Parliament will like to put on record that at the beginning of every term, Members are paid some allowances towards their rent.

“The Speaker, by virtue of his position, is not entitled to such an allowance and was therefore not paid any such advance,” Parliament said in a statement on Monday.

It explained that the Speaker was yet to move into his official residence because of the renovation works.

“The residence is due to be handed over for full occupation in May.”

‘Regrettable’

Parliament described as “regrettable” the reports in the media.

According to the statement signed by Acting Director of the Public Affairs Department Kate Addo, the reports wrongfully “sought to impugn such payments to the Speaker”.

“Parliament takes a strong exception to these reports which seek not only to bring the Speaker’s name, but the entire institution into disrepute.

“Parliament will like to urge the media to cross check with our offices for confirmation of such stories before publication.”