Ghana rules out First, Second Lady salaries
Ghana’s Apex Court has ruled that spouses of the President and Vice-President are not entitled to salaries and other benefits charged from the consolidated fund.
The Supreme Court ruled that the First and Second Ladies are not public officers under Article (71) of the 1992 Constitution and therefore cannot enjoy such privileges.
This decision comes after the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwame Baffoe also known as Abronye DC sought four reliefs. His actions follow recommendations made in June 2020 by the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu-led committee appointed by the President under Article 71 (1) for the payment of salaries to spouses of the President and Vice president for parliamentary approval.
Baffoe argued that the approval by parliament to pay salaries to the First and Second Ladies was unconstitutional and should be declared null and void. He also argued that their positions do not fall under the category of Public Office Holders.
However, his relief inviting the court to declare that parliament cannot on its own accord approve payment of any such emoluments per Articles 108 and 178 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, was not granted.
A second petition was jointly filed by Members of Parliament for South Dayi and Builsa South Constituencies; Dafeamekpor Rockson-Nelson, Dr. Clement Abaasinat Apaak, and a citizen Frederick Nii Commey.
According to Graphic.com, their relief praying the court to declare that the spouses of the President and the Vice-President were not Article 71 office holders for the purposes of receipt of wages and emoluments, was granted by the court.
Their other reliefs, which were centred on the mandate and recommendation of the Prof. Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee, were not granted.
