Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu says he is unhappy at the Auditor – General for rejecting the Chief of Staff's request to conduct an audit verification which seeks to pave way for payment of salary arrears to over 200 former and current Members of Parliament (MPs).
According to him, the request from the former MPs has been described as unacceptable, amounting to a conflict of interest.
The Majority Leader said "Mr. Mensah-Bonsu, however, clarified that contrary to the Auditor - General's assertion, about four Members of Parliament from the Majority would have benefitted from the payments”
He maintained the Auditor-General should have considered “whether payments made to some Members of Parliament were enough”, instead of raising issues with conflict of interest.
Thinknewsonline.com is learning some former MPs, whom left Parliament over 10 years ago, were requesting the payment of arrears of salaries and emoluments amounting to over GH¢29.7 million.
However, the Auditor-General said “It will not be right to pay any further monies to them, due to the investigation of some of the MPs on the list for receiving double salaries”
“It is also a public knowledge that some MPs were or are undergoing police investigations for receiving double salaries which implies overpayment but several of the names are included in the list for additional payment submitted by FFMPs per Office of the President letter dated 22nd April 2020,” he said.
“It is my considered opinion that the Former MPs are not entitled to what they are asking for, but it also came to me as a big surprise that our honourable former MPs are making such a request at time of a pandemic which has taken the entire world by surprise." he stressed.
Story by: Magdalene Maame Abena Serwaa Asante
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