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12.02.2009 Politics

C'ttee To Review Ex-Gratia

12.02.2009 LISTEN
By Ghanaian Times

President J.E.A. Mills has decided to set up a committee to revisit the issue of emoluments to specified public office holders under Article 71 of the 1992 constitution.

The committee will be appointed in consultation with the Council of State, when it is established.

A press release signed by Mahama Ayariga, presidential spokesperson, said the committee will be given one month for its work, adding that its recommendations will form the basis for a final decision on the controversial ex-gratia awards.

In the mean time, the release said, President Mills has directed that Members of Parliament (MPs) should be paid, on account, ex-gratia equivalent to four months salary for each full year of service, as has been the convention, instead of the Chinery-Hesse committee's recommendation of five months and a resettlement grant equivalent to two months for every completed year of service.

The release said President Mills' attention was drawn on February 4, to correspondence from the Ministry of Finance to the controller and Accountant-General to effect payment of ex-gratia awards to the ex-president, ex-Vice President, and ex-Ministers and Members of Parliament, as per the recommendations of the Chinery-Hesse committee on emoluments.

It said following investigations, it was established that there was no basis for proceeding with the ex-gratia payments as recommended by the Chinery-Hesse committee.

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