Pay hike for Prez, Ministers too huge - GII

Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has raised concerns about Parliament’s approval of pay rise for the President, his Deputy and Ministers of state in line with the Ewurama Addy Committee’s recommendations.

In a closed sitting on Wednesday, MPs voted in favour of increasing the consolidated monthly salary of the President to about GH¢12,000 and that of the Vice President to about GH¢10,500.

The Executive arm of government recently increased monthly salaries of MPs to GH¢7,200.

The Executive arm of government approved the emoluments of the Legislature and Vice Versa according to the Constitution.

But the Secretary of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Vitus Azeem in an interview with XYZ News said the country’s economy cannot absorb the raise.

“What is the general salary level of public servants in the country, you need to look at that as compared to what has been approved by the executive”

He added that “we need to look at whether the economy can absorb the amount that has been approved and when I say absorb we look at the retrospective effect of these things”.

However, the Majority leader in Parliament, Cletus Avoka has denied knowledge of the specific margin of the raise.

Mr. Avoka speaking to XYZ News said Parliament only adhered to a constitutional provision.

“It is a constitutional provision and the thing is that if a President comes into office, he or she would have to put in place a committee to recommendation about salaries and emoluments of some office holders under Article 71” Hon. Avoka said.