Source: newsthemegh.com
The Supreme Court ruled that parliament’s acceptance of the payment of salary allowances from the consolidated fund to the spouses of the President and Vice-President was unconstitutional.
The Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, convened a seven-member panel that rendered a decision today concluding that the First and Second Ladies of Ghana are not considered holders of public office.
It further said that the Parliamentary Emolument Committee is restricted to endorsing the pay, perks, and other benefits of public office holders alone.
This was the court’s ruling in the lawsuit brought by Mr. Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye D, the Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr. Abronye’s fourth relief was denied. He asked the court to rule that parliament cannot, by itself, start or approve the payment of any such emoluments, which would have to come from public funds, unless a bill containing that language is introduced by the government, approved by the legislature, and duly signed into law.
When Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, one of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs for the South Dayi Constituency, filed a similar suit, his reliefs, which centered on the committee’s recommendations, were rejected, and only one was granted.
Avril Lovelace-Johnson, Ernest Yao Gaewu, Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Barbara Ackah-Yensu, and Gabriel Pwamang were the other panelists.