Woman to sue over MPs fat-cat salaries
A Ghanaian woman is threatening to take the Members of Parliament (MPs) to court for raping the state treasury over the fat-cat salaries that is said to have been approved by the executive for Article 71 office holders.
Madam Ama Donkor, who is gearing to stand for election to the highest office of the land on the ticket of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), insists that the quantum leap in MPs salaries from GH¢3,000 to GH¢7,200 was unjustified.
The salaries of Members of Parliament are set to increase from GH¢3,000 per month to GH¢7,200 following the recommendations of the Prof. Ewurama Addy Commission, established by the late President Mills at the beginning of his presidency, to look into the salaries of the MPs.
The increase will take retroactive effect, beginning in 2009, when the late President Mills first assumed office. This will bring the total amount yet to be paid the MPs to GH¢43,470,000.
This quantum leap has been severely criticised by large sections of the populace, including Franklin Cudjoe of Imani Ghana, who says the increase is not deserved.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on Monday October 8, 2012, Madam Akua Donkor announced her intention to storm the courts to seek an injunction to prevent the payment of the proposed salary increase, arguing that such monies can be used to better the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.
How much are journalists and teachers paid? You people (journalists) work so hard, but you are still walking on the streets. Just a few people are chopping the money. This money (MPs salary increase) is too much,’ she declared.
A District Chief Executive is appointed today, and you see him riding around in cars, how about teachers? When I am elected president, I will take care of teachers and you people (journalists),” she promised.
In a related development, Madam Akua Donkor has also threatened to sue government and the Ghana Cocoa Board to demand more for the ordinary farmer for the sale of his cocoa beans by the government.
According to the GFP leader, the government has cheated the ordinary cocoa farmer for far too long, and an Akua Donkor Presidency will address what she describes as an anomaly – the seeming neglect of the Ghanaian farmer.
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