A Labour Expert, Austin Gamey, has said that the concerns that the people of Ghana have raised against payment of emoluments of Article 71 office holders should be addressed immediately.
He stated that since the taxpayers are the ones paying the emoluments and not the government, it is only appropriate that their concerns are addressed.
“The issue is that the public concern is now loud and clear as alluded to the president. The reality is that we have over the years since 1996 gained tremendous experience as to what the issues are and the concerns of the public.
“Since it is not the government who directly pays and it is the people, it is only appropriate we listen to them and take pragmatic steps to do the necessary reforms and it is about it should be done,” Mr Gamey said on the News 360 on TV3 Thursday August 31 while reacting to the newly-formed five-member Emoluments Committee inaugurated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
It is recalled that following the inauguration of the committee, the Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr John Kwakye said that any proposed increases that will be made by the committee should be met with public outcry.
Dr Kwakye said the Committee must recommend a freeze of emoluments given the state of the economy.
“The Article 71 Committee must recommend a freeze of emoluments given the state of the economy. Any proposed increases should be met with public outcry,” he tweeted on Thursday, August 31 after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo inaugurated the committee with the responsibility of determining the emoluments and privileges of Article 71 office holders.
He added, “Article 71 emoluments review is a needless disturbance.”
The committee would also be considering salaries and allowances of political office holders or any other offices the Committee deems fit per the constitution.
The committee is chaired by a former chairperson of the Public Services Commission Dr. Janet Fofie.
The Composition of the committee was done on the advice of the Council of State, the president said.
The President mentioned the terms of reference of the committee are two-fold. One, to make recommendations in respect of the emoluments and other privileges for Article 71 officeholders as specified under the constitution and to examine any other relevant ways that the committee deems appropriate to do its work.
He added “I must indicate that in recent times, a lot of public discourse surrounding the remuneration of public officers, except the primary of those of Article 71 office holders, and whether or not, notwithstanding the constitutional imperatives were deserving of what is being paid to us.
“In view of the challenges currently confronting our national economy. It might well be that your work should also focus on these concerns and make recommendations on how they should be addressed,” President Akufo-Addo said.
The committee members are:
- Dr. Janet Fofie – Chairperson
- Prof. Gyan Baffour – Member
- Gloria Ofori Buodu – Member
- Dr. Osei-Akoto – Member
- Ben Arthur – Member
