Former Member of Parliament for the Builsa North Constituency, Timothy Ataboadey Awontiirim, expressed his satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the payment of salaries to the First and Second Ladies, calling it unconstitutional.
According to Hon. Awontiirim, President Akufo-Addo’s administration has been focused on enriching himself and his family, and paying salaries to the First and Second Ladies is evidence of this.
The Supreme Court ruled that spouses of the President and Vice-President do not qualify as public officers under Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution, therefore they cannot receive salaries and benefits from the consolidated fund.
A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, declared Parliament’s approval to pay salaries to the First Lady and Second Lady unconstitutional.
The court clarified that the Emoluments Committee of Parliament is only authorized to recommend salaries and benefits for public office holders.
The Supreme Court’s decisions came in response to two separate cases. The first case was filed by Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC, while the second case was filed jointly by Members of Parliament Dafeamekpor Rockson-Nelson and Dr. Clement Abaasinat Apaak, along with citizen Frederick Nii Commey.
These legal actions arose from recommendations made in June 2020 by the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu-led Committee, appointed by the President under Article 71(1) of the Constitution, which proposed paying salaries to the spouses of the President and Vice-President.
Speaking on Ahotor 92.3 FM‘s Simpieso with host Emmanuel Martey, the former Builsa North MP expressed his joy that the case was dismissed, emphasizing that neither the First Lady nor the Second Lady are public officers.
LISTEN TO TIMOTHY ATABOADEY AWONTIIRIM IN THIS AUDIO BELOW:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites) / Ahotoronline.com
