Monday 5 November 2012

PRESIDENT MAHAMA OF GHANA ORDERS REVIEW OF SALARIES OF HIS CABINET


President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has directed the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, to withhold authorization of payment of the newly approved salary increment for the executive consisting of his cabinet including himself which see them take home a whooping amount raging from 8,000 to 10,000 US dollars per month. 

In a press statement that the National Turk saw, President Mahama said he has requested parliament to consider a review of the emoluments approved for the executive arm of government by the legislature since he considered it as too huge. 

President Mahama is a social democrat and will not allow such huge sums of monies to be paid to the cabinet including himself despite being approved by parliament.
President Mahama became president after the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills in July this year which made him president by the provisions of the Ghanaian constitution since he was then the vice president.
He stands election this year on December 7th and many see him as the favorite to win the election.
 PUBLIC UPROAR ON THE INCREASE OF THE SALARIES OF THE MINISTERS
The approved salary increases for the president and the entire executive arm of government attracted sharp criticisms from a section of the public, including some civil society organizations. 
People on the street of Accra and other major cities in Ghana condemned the increase saying it is ``uncalled for’’.
``In a country where the majority of the people live in an abject poverty, it is not prudent to pay these huge sums of monies to members of your cabinet’’ Ebenezer Okantah Asiedu, a student of the Ghana Institute of Journalism told the national Turk reporter.

The salary increases meant that the President will take home GHS 12,000 (10,000 Dollars) monthly while his deputy takes home GHS 10,500. (8,500 US Dollars)

Ministers and their deputies will have also received salaries ranging from GHS 8,000 and 9,000 if parliament refuses to review the payments.

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