War Over 'obscene bill of privileges' for JAK & JJ

...2 Houses, 6 Cars, 60 days overseas travels for Kufuor
...Mpiani slipped bill to parliament under cover of darkness
A RAGING WAR OF words have erupted between Hon. Alban Bagbin, the Majority leader and Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Minority leader, over the content of an ‘obscene bill of privileges’ that has been approved for ex-President JJ Rawlings and the former President J.A. Kufuor, in a most dramatic fashion when every eye was riveted to the transition.

Chronicle investigations have established that the Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, chose the cover of darkness to slip his monstrous deal to a select group of Parliament, like a thief creeping towards his quarry with such indecent haste, after sufficiently dulling the conscience of the then legislators with ’kola’ on that day, 6th January 2009, they received the deal, discussed the package, and approved it all within hours, even though it did not come under a Certificate of Emergency.

The approval of the mouth watering ex-gratia and post-presidential privileges was first sent to Parliament and forwarded by the Clerk of Parliament to the Chief of staff, all on the last sitting of the last parliament.

The retirement packages was compiled by the Chinery Hesse Commission, approved by parliament and forwarded to the then Chief of Staff on January 6, this year, for implementation.

The Commission recommended that the former Presidents should be provided with 6 fuelled and chauffer-driven vehicles to be replaced every four years, offices and Residences in and out of the nation’s capital, three professional and personal assistants, non-taxable ex-gratia awards plus Pension benefits, entertainment at the expense of the state and $1million seed money for a foundation.

The then Minority Leader, at the time the report was passed. Hon Alban S.K. Bagbin, insisted that he was not in Parliament at the time the recommendation was approved by parliament on January.

He said since he was with the transitional team, he was not given a copy of the document to study and that after a long while he managed to get a copy just last Friday and was still studying it.

Hon. Bagbin, who is now the Majority leader in Parliament, said ever since the day of approval, he has requested for the hansard to identify how many of his colleagues from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) approved the Commission’s report, because to the best of his best knowledge, his colleagues did not approve it. He argued that since it was a Presidential Commission, the Minority then did not need to approve the report before it could be considered, and that he was aware that it was a closed sitting.

The then Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the report did not cover only the President but the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

When asked whether the facilities were not too extravagant, he said “I don’t know about that, six vehicles and you call that extravagant?”

Dilating on the process by which the report was approved, he said the constitutional provisions required that the Legislature approved that of the Executive while the Executive approved that of the Legislature, adding that since it was a Presidential commission, the President submitted it directly to parliament, as a result it was not reviewed by a specific select committee in parliament.

Regarding the assertions by Hon. Bagbin that the Minority need not have signed before Parliamentary approval, he said “I don’t want to believe that, read article 71 of the Constitution, which says that Salaries and Privileges must be approved by Parliament, and he turns round to say that the report did not need the Minority’s approval, if he said so that would have been ignorance at its height.”

The then Minority Chief Whip, Hon John Tia confirmed that the report was approved with the consent of the Minority He maintained that some aspects were good for the performance of Parliament and the individuals.

Regarding that of the President, he said “You can’t come and be President and leave office poor, that is why some of the Heads of State do not want to leave power, the provisions for the President is beneficial for both democracy and for the individuals.”

The spokesperson of President Mills’ transitional team, Ms Hanna Tetteh told The Chronicle that the government had no alternative than to implement the report because it has been approved by Parliament.

She further told this reporter that the report was the last approval of the 4th Parliament of the 4th Republic which had NPP majority.

“If you remember this was the last approval of the last sitting of parliament on January 6,” She added. The Chinery Hesse Report on the retirement facilities and privileges of the President states, “Fully furnished residence in the nation’s capital, provision of office facilities and guest accommodation to be maintained by state protocol.

The residence should not revert to the state in the event of the demise of the President in order not to destabilize the family in line with best practices. The quality of accommodation should be of a standard befitting a retired Head of State who must be called upon to receive and entertain the network of dignitaries including Heads of States which would have been cultivated during the period in office.

The standard of accommodation must be determined in consultation with state protocol. A model design is attached to the report.

Out- of- capital residence at a location of former President’s choice, which should also not revert to the state in the event of the demise of the former president for the same reason.

Adequate residential support staff for the residence in and out of the capital, to be provided by the state.

Office facility, fully equipped furnished and staffed with five professionals and adequate secretarial support within the nation’s capital at State expense at a location to be determined in consultation with the former president.

Six fully maintained comprehensively insured, fuelled and chauffeur- driven vehicles; vehicles to be replaced every four years. The vehicles should be three saloon cars, two cross country vehicles and one all purpose vehicle (armoured car). Travel in congested traffic should be facilitated appropriately with police escort, bearing in mind security considerations. Overseas travel once a year with a maximum duration of 45 days for former presidents and spouses

A former President who has served two consecutive terms should be entitled to a period of 60 days overseas travels taking into account the longevity of service and accompanying stress given the demands of the office.

Three professional and personal assistants and adequate security should accompany the former president in all overseas travels at the expense of the state; this is in line with best practice.
Medical and dental services at the expense of the State. Adequate 24hour security service should be provided at all times. Entitlement to Ghana diplomatic passport, and diplomatic courtesies for former President and spouse. Entertainment: Adequate provision by state protocol.
Non taxable Ex-gratia award: Equivalent to 12 months Consolidated Salary for each full year of service or pro-rata. Where the President has served for a second consecutive term, an additional nontaxable resettlement grant of 6 months of consolidated salary for each full year of service, or pro-rata prepaid with nontaxable ex-gratia of 12months of consolidated salary for each year served.
ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTES/FOUNDATION
As we have stated, the committee acknowledges that the former Presidents should be put in a position to use the experience which they would have garnered during their time in office; this would also have the advantage of mitigating withdrawal pangs after a life of prominence and importance.

In addition to mobilizing resources from the many international Development Partners who have expressed the willingness to support such a cause in promotion of good governance and democracy, the Committee recommends that the State should provide seed money, equivalent to one million US dollars as an endowment to launch this project. This Institute might be associated with one of the tertiary institutions or a think, which might give technical and professional support during the nascent period.

...2 Houses, 6 Cars, 60 days overseas travels for Kufuor
...Mpiani slipped bill to parliament under cover of darkness
A RAGING WAR OF words have erupted between Hon. Alban Bagbin, the Majority leader and Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Minority leader, over the content of an ‘obscene bill of privileges’ that has been approved for ex-President JJ Rawlings and the former President J.A. Kufuor, in a most dramatic fashion when every eye was riveted to the transition.

Chronicle investigations have established that the Chief of Staff, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, chose the cover of darkness to slip his monstrous deal to a select group of Parliament, like a thief creeping towards his quarry with such indecent haste, after sufficiently dulling the conscience of the then legislators with ’kola’ on that day, 6th January 2009, they received the deal, discussed the package, and approved it all within hours, even though it did not come under a Certificate of Emergency.

The approval of the mouth watering ex-gratia and post-presidential privileges was first sent to Parliament and forwarded by the Clerk of Parliament to the Chief of staff, all on the last sitting of the last parliament.

The retirement packages was compiled by the Chinery Hesse Commission, approved by parliament and forwarded to the then Chief of Staff on January 6, this year, for implementation.

The Commission recommended that the former Presidents should be provided with 6 fuelled and chauffer-driven vehicles to be replaced every four years, offices and Residences in and out of the nation’s capital, three professional and personal assistants, non-taxable ex-gratia awards plus Pension benefits, entertainment at the expense of the state and $1million seed money for a foundation.

The then Minority Leader, at the time the report was passed. Hon Alban S.K. Bagbin, insisted that he was not in Parliament at the time the recommendation was approved by parliament on January.

He said since he was with the transitional team, he was not given a copy of the document to study and that after a long while he managed to get a copy just last Friday and was still studying it.

Hon. Bagbin, who is now the Majority leader in Parliament, said ever since the day of approval, he has requested for the hansard to identify how many of his colleagues from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) approved the Commission’s report, because to the best of his best knowledge, his colleagues did not approve it. He argued that since it was a Presidential Commission, the Minority then did not need to approve the report before it could be considered, and that he was aware that it was a closed sitting.

The then Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the report did not cover only the President but the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

When asked whether the facilities were not too extravagant, he said “I don’t know about that, six vehicles and you call that extravagant?”

Dilating on the process by which the report was approved, he said the constitutional provisions required that the Legislature approved that of the Executive while the Executive approved that of the Legislature, adding that since it was a Presidential commission, the President submitted it directly to parliament, as a result it was not reviewed by a specific select committee in parliament.

Regarding the assertions by Hon. Bagbin that the Minority need not have signed before Parliamentary approval, he said “I don’t want to believe that, read article 71 of the Constitution, which says that Salaries and Privileges must be approved by Parliament, and he turns round to say that the report did not need the Minority’s approval, if he said so that would have been ignorance at its height.”

The then Minority Chief Whip, Hon John Tia confirmed that the report was approved with the consent of the Minority He maintained that some aspects were good for the performance of Parliament and the individuals.

Regarding that of the President, he said “You can’t come and be President and leave office poor, that is why some of the Heads of State do not want to leave power, the provisions for the President is beneficial for both democracy and for the individuals.”

The spokesperson of President Mills’ transitional team, Ms Hanna Tetteh told The Chronicle that the government had no alternative than to implement the report because it has been approved by Parliament.

She further told this reporter that the report was the last approval of the 4th Parliament of the 4th Republic which had NPP majority.

“If you remember this was the last approval of the last sitting of parliament on January 6,” She added. The Chinery Hesse Report on the retirement facilities and privileges of the President states, “Fully furnished residence in the nation’s capital, provision of office facilities and guest accommodation to be maintained by state protocol.

The residence should not revert to the state in the event of the demise of the President in order not to destabilize the family in line with best practices. The quality of accommodation should be of a standard befitting a retired Head of State who must be called upon to receive and entertain the network of dignitaries including Heads of States which would have been cultivated during the period in office.

The standard of accommodation must be determined in consultation with state protocol. A model design is attached to the report.

Out- of- capital residence at a location of former President’s choice, which should also not revert to the state in the event of the demise of the former president for the same reason.

Adequate residential support staff for the residence in and out of the capital, to be provided by the state.

Office facility, fully equipped furnished and staffed with five professionals and adequate secretarial support within the nation’s capital at State expense at a location to be determined in consultation with the former president.

Six fully maintained comprehensively insured, fuelled and chauffeur- driven vehicles; vehicles to be replaced every four years. The vehicles should be three saloon cars, two cross country vehicles and one all purpose vehicle (armoured car). Travel in congested traffic should be facilitated appropriately with police escort, bearing in mind security considerations. Overseas travel once a year with a maximum duration of 45 days for former presidents and spouses

A former President who has served two consecutive terms should be entitled to a period of 60 days overseas travels taking into account the longevity of service and accompanying stress given the demands of the office.

Three professional and personal assistants and adequate security should accompany the former president in all overseas travels at the expense of the state; this is in line with best practice.
Medical and dental services at the expense of the State. Adequate 24hour security service should be provided at all times. Entitlement to Ghana diplomatic passport, and diplomatic courtesies for former President and spouse. Entertainment: Adequate provision by state protocol.
Non taxable Ex-gratia award: Equivalent to 12 months Consolidated Salary for each full year of service or pro-rata. Where the President has served for a second consecutive term, an additional nontaxable resettlement grant of 6 months of consolidated salary for each full year of service, or pro-rata prepaid with nontaxable ex-gratia of 12months of consolidated salary for each year served.
ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTES/FOUNDATION
As we have stated, the committee acknowledges that the former Presidents should be put in a position to use the experience which they would have garnered during their time in office; this would also have the advantage of mitigating withdrawal pangs after a life of prominence and importance.

In addition to mobilizing resources from the many international Development Partners who have expressed the willingness to support such a cause in promotion of good governance and democracy, the Committee recommends that the State should provide seed money, equivalent to one million US dollars as an endowment to launch this project. This Institute might be associated with one of the tertiary institutions or a think, which might give technical and professional support during the nascent period.