Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has denied widely accepted claims that Members of Parliament receive ex gratia.
What MPs take, he said, is gratuity and stressed the difference needs to be explained for the benefit of the Ghanaian public.
The leader admitted MPs have themselves fallen into that trap and continue to talk about ex gratia and stressed, “Members of Parliament are not paid ex gratia. We are paid gratuity, which is totally different.”
Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu disclosed this last Friday when MP for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, demanded when the President will set up the Emoluments Committee as enshrined by Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution.
He raised concern that two years after being sworn into office, MPs of the 8th Parliament do not yet know their conditions of service.
He argued it is imperative members get paid their salaries presently rather than at the end of their term, especially with the poor depreciation of the cedi.
He said, “The time value of money makes it very imperative that you pay us our proper salaries now and not four years later, then when you pay us people turn round and accuse us of taking fat ex gratia when that is our salary that you delayed in paying.’
The Majority leader, also MP for Suame constituency in the Ashanti Region observed that every administration has been guilty of delay in determining the conditions of service of MPs because presidents have shown extreme sensitivity to the plight of workers in the general body politic.
He stated that the day an MP is sworn into office to begin their term, they should know their conditions of service but admitted this does not happen.
According to him, it is for this reason that he with many others has been advocating for an agreement as a House so the Emoluments Committee appointed under Article 71 could build in the necessary triggers in the reports submitted to Parliament so there could be automaticity if these conditions are triggered.
“So that once a person comes to Parliament, they will know this is their conditions of service. There will therefore not be the requirement to set up ritualistically these Committees every four years, which attracts a lot of brouhahas, which in my view is not necessary.”
“Maybe all of us have to put our heads together plus maybe officers and officials from the presidency so we know what is appropriate and that should be done,” he added.
Article 71 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates the determination of the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary paid from the Consolidated Fund and how it would be determined by the President, on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by him and acting upon the advice of the Council of State.
In determining the salaries of the President, his Ministers, and political appointees, as well as the members of the Council of State, the Constitution states that Parliament will determine that based on the advice of the same committee.
Article 71 of Ghana’s constitution states as follows:
The salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities and privileges available, to-
a. The speaker and deputy speakers and members of parliament;
b. The chief justice and the justices of the superior court of Judicature;
c. The Auditor-General, the Chairman And Deputy Chairman Of the Electoral Commission,
d. The Commissioner For Human Rights And Administrative Justice And His Deputies And The District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator;
e. the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the other members of,
(i) a National Council for Higher Education, howsoever describes.
ii) the Public Services Commission,
iii) the National Media Commission
iv) the Lands Commission and
v) the National Commission For Civic Education being expenditure charged on the consolidated fund, shall be determined by the President on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the council of state.
2. The salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities available, to the President, the Vice President, the chairman and the other members of the Council of State, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers, being expenditure charged on the consolidated fund, shall be determined by Parliament on the recommendation of the committee referred to in clause (1) of this article.
3. For the purpose of this article and except as otherwise provided, constitution “salaries” includes allowances, facilities and privilege, and retiring benefit or awards.”