The Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) has followed with keen interest discussions on emoluments for presidential spouses after recommendations to Parliament by the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu-led Committee became public.
According to AFFA, the discussions which ordinarily should be a healthy one have unfortunately been characterized by mudslinging and unprintable invectives from the camp of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) -- a calculated move aimed at denting the images of the First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Second Lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia and the government in general.
In a communique sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the Executive Secretary of AFFA, Sir Obama Pokuase said "Both the First and Second Ladies, acting through their Communication Directorate have thus announced a refund to the state all allowances paid to them since 2017, and also a rejection of any further emoluments due them as approved by the Parliament of Ghana to safeguard their hard-won reputation."
The communique added that AFFA welcomes the move and commends the First and Second Ladies.
It added that undeniably, they have set a new and higher standard for presidential spouses (both former and present) whose offices, strictly speaking, are not recognized under the famous "Article 71" of the 1992 constitution for which reason deserve no such payment from the state.
"In the name of equity and fairness, it is the contention of AFFA that Mrs. Lordina Mahama (wife of former president John Mahama) also refunds to the State the sum of THREE MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND GHANA CEDIS (GHs 3, 200, 000) being the total allowance she received from the state coffers while her husband, Mr. Mahama served as vice president and president of the Republic of Ghana between 2009 to date," it said.
"That said, it is the submission of AFFA that presidential widows be treated differently. Parliament must initiate steps to pass legislation to give the State the needed legal backing to support them while cancelling any benefit(s) to those with their husbands alive" the leadership of AFFA concluded.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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