News
Auditor-General rejects MPs salary arrears…They seek redress in court
The Auditor-General has rejected a request by the Chief of Staff for an audit verification to be conducted for the payment of salary arrears to be given to more than 200 former and current Members of Parliament (MP).
Daniel Domelevo, the Auditor-General, explained that the request made by the former MPs was invalid and amounted to a conflict of interest because most of the beneficiaries were either serving as members of the current government, including the president and the Chief of Staff or were still in parliament.
In a letter dated May 8, 2020, the Auditor-General had however, stated that because some MPs on list for salary arrears were under investigation for receiving double salaries, it would not be right to pay any further monies to them.
The Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare’s request was based on a letter from a group known as Forum for Former Members of Parliament (FFMPs), some of whom left Parliament more than 10 years ago.
They are requesting payment of arrears of salaries and emoluments amounting to more than GH¢29.7 million owed its members by the State, and won’t give up on its demands and will seek redress at appropriate quarters.
Mr Domelevo cited case of conflict of interest since some beneficiaries of payment of supposed salary arrears were occupants of various positions in executive arm of the government, whom he described as ‘the approving authority’.
But David Apasera, former MP for Bolgatanga Central Constituency in the Upper East Region for Peoples National Convention (PNC) and leader of Forum, said they were not moved by the decision of the Auditor-General, saying, “ Options are there if you have an entitlement and the government is refusing you your entitlement, you can go through right quarters for redress.
“The appropriate quarters are there, we can go to for redress, we are not bothered by opinion of Auditor-General, if Auditor-General had time to listen to us, he would have understood our case, nobody told us to come up with issue, we took it up on our own, we didn’t go to discuss with Chief of Staff, we did it on our own because it is legitimate,” Mr Apasera bemoaned.
For his part, Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was unhappy with the Auditor-General’s decision to reject the Chief of Staff’s request for conduct of an audit verification that would pave way for payment of salary arrears to be made to more than 200 former and current MPs.
He, however, clarified contrary to Auditor-General’s assertion, just about four MPs from Majority would have benefitted from payments and described it as unfortunate comment to come from the Auditor General and Majority who would otherwise come for consideration were only three or four but the Minority have many.
“It is my considered opinion former MPs are not entitled to what they are asking for, but it also came to me as surprise our former MPs are making such request at time of pandemic which has taken the entire world by surprise,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said. -citinewsroom.com
The legal tussle over the removal of the former Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkonoo is far from over as she filed another process before the High Court in Accra to halt the vetting of the newly appointed Chief Justice.
The application, which is in the nature of a judicial review, is asking for grant a number of reliefs and declarations.
The legal action filed is also seeking to stop the vetting and subsequent appointment of Justice Baffoe Bonnie as Ghana’s Chief Justice.
Justice Torkonoo is asking the court for an order of certiorari to quash the proceedings of the May 15, 2025 and the entire proceedings and outcomes of the Article 146 set up to consider petitions to remove the Applicant chaired by Pwamang JSC (“Pwamang Committee” “Committee).
She also wants an order of certiorari to quash each and all of the three reasons/grounds given by the Pwamang Committee for recommending her removal from office as stated in the letter of the Secretary to the President dated September 1, 2025.
Justice Torkonoo is further asking the court for an order prohibiting the denial or withdrawal of the salary, benefit, courtesies, and other entitlements due to her before the Warrant of Removal dated September 1, 2025.
By Malik Sullemana
Organiser of Ghana Music Awards (GMA) -USA have honoured Founder of Reign House Chapel, Prophet Eric Boahen Uche for his enormous support to the music industry.
GMA-USA led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr.Denise Boafo, affectionately called Don, made the presentation on Sunday, October 12, at church.
Presenting the citation, Mr.Boafo said Prophet Eric Boahen has been a support system for various sections of Ghana’s music echoe system.
This, he said, has gone a long way to keep many gospel artistes in business regardless of challenges confronting the industry.
“This is in recognition of remarkable contribution to the gospel music industry in Ghana and beyond,” he said.
He revealed that the Man of God substantially supported this year’s GMA-USA, a gesture which cannot kept under the rug.
On his part, a grateful Prophet Eric Boahen expressed his appreciation to the organisers for such an honour.
According to him, the gesture is a motivation to him and others to continuously support the cause of GMA-USA.
He charged the organisers to work assidously to promote Ghana Music in the diaspora.
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