The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has condemned politicians who are demanding ex-gratia payments despite the country currently facing a pandemic.
According to him, this is not the right time for any politician to be agitating for ex-gratia arrears.
Mr. Ablakwa believes the ex-gratia agenda must be relegated and priority is given to the masses who are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The legislator was reacting to appeals from former and current Members of Parliament to be paid about GH¢29.7 million salary arrears.
“No politician should be agitating for ex-gratia arrears at this traumatic time. Auditor General Daniel Domelevo is absolutely God-sent & a true patriot,” he wrote on Twitter.
No politician should be agitating for ex-gratia arrears at this traumatic time. Auditor General Daniel Domelevo is absolutely God sent & a true patriot.
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) May 20, 2020
The ex-gratia agenda should be immediately aborted & priority given to the masses who are losing jobs & livelihoods to COVID-19
“The ex-gratia agenda should be immediately aborted and priority is given to the masses who are losing jobs & livelihoods to COVID-19.”
This comes after the Chief of Staff directed for an audit verification to be conducted for the payment of salary arrears to be given to over 200 former and current MPs.
The Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, however, disagreed and urged the government to reject the request.
Mr. Domelevo argued that the request was invalid and amounted to a conflict of interest.
This, he said, was because most of the 200 beneficiaries were now serving as members of the current government.
Source: Pulse Ghana
