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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
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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