Ex-gratia for officeholders: The looting must stop — Vitus Azeem

His comments come after the Paramount Chief and the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV rejected over GH¢365,000 ex-gratia paid to him for serving on the Council of State between 2017 and 2020.

He has thus returned the money to the state through the Bank of Ghana.

In a statement issued by the Agbogbomefia, he said he received monthly payments and allowances while as a member of the Council of State therefore he sees no need for the payment of the ex-gratia.

"I did not think the payment was made to trap me, as is being speculated. I believe it was paid to everybody who served on the Council of State. However, I thought that extra payment was inappropriate for a short, effectively part-time work, for which I received a monthly salary and was entitled to other privileges. So, I was very uncomfortable with it," Togbe Afede XIV said in a statement.

"After weeks of trying, I obtained advice on how to refund inappropriate payments to the State, and on March 4, 2022, I made the refund into the Controller & Accountant General's Department Suspense Account at the Bank of Ghana," he added.

Togbe Afede XIV has been in the news recently due to his criticism of the Bank of Ghana on the increase of the policy rate.

He described the Central bank's response as "misrepresentations and outright lies".

He indicated that the responses from the BoG are "lame, and failed to address the core issues I raised".

He said none of the BoG's arguments justify the astronomically high monetary policy rates that have burdened our economy over the past 20 years.

He said "It is unfortunate that not since May 2003 when I questioned the soundness of BOG’s monetary policy has there been any open debate on the subject. I would urge our economists to show some interest. The "independence" of BOG does not grant it immunity from constructive criticism. BOG must demonstrate a genuine commitment to stability, growth, and employment generation."

Vitus Azeem in a Facebook post said the looting must stop.

Article 71 for officeholders

Article 71 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that the determination of the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary paid from the Consolidated Fund would be determined by the President, on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by him and acting upon the advice of the Council of State.

In determining the salaries of the President, his Ministers, and political appointees, as well as the members of the Council of State, the Constitution states that Parliament will determine that based on the advice of the same committee.

Article 71 officeholders include the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, and the Justices of the Supreme Court.

The rest are Members of Parliament (MPs), Ministers of State, political appointees, and public servants with salaries charged to the Consolidated Fund but enjoying special constitutional privileges.