The Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo has advised government against paying a supposed salary arrears to some past lawmakers calling themselves Forum for Former Members of Parliament (FFMP).
The advice comes after the Chief of Staff wrote to the auditor-general requesting auditing clearance for the monies to be paid.
The forum, some of whom left the House over 10 years ago, are requesting the payment of arrears of salaries and emoluments amounting to over GH¢29.7 million.
In a response to the Chief of Staff, the Auditor-General said: “Apart from the fact that the claim from the FFMP is invalid because the CHC [Chinery Hesse Committee] report for 2005 to 2009 was rejected, it may also amount to an abuse of power or conflict of interest to make additional payment (20% salary increase per annum for four years) to former Members of Parliament (covering a period of 10 to 14 years ago) especially when some of them are now the executive.”
He explained: “It is also 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,” the Auditor-General wrote. “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.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com/103.5fm
