Ato Forson challenges pension pay suit by 40 former MPs

Member of Parliament for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam Constituency, Cassiel Ato Forson has denied the existence of any document approving payment of pension to any former Members of Parliament at the Finance Ministry where he worked as a deputy minister under Mills/Mahama administration. The former deputy finance minister speaking to Onua FM morning show ‘Yen Nsem Pa’ Tuesday challenged the validity of claims in a suit brought against the government by 40 former MPs demanding payment. The former MPs are demanding an amount of 233,495 Ghana Cedis each, being an accrued monthly pension pay since January 2009. The amount which the former legislators claimed was originally 13, 735 Ghana Cedis per a plaintiff, shot up to the 233,495 Ghana Cedis over the years. The former MPs claimed the basis of their claim could be traced back to the Chinery – Hesse Presidential Emoluments Committee, which provides that parliamentarians who were 50 years and above and exited parliament , having served two full terms, should be paid some sums of money as pension benefits. But Cassiel Ato Forson remarked, “I remember I have handled this matter at the time but have argued that we have not sighted any document saying that His Excellency Ex President Kufuor approved it, you remember President Mills recalled that report to do some work on it.” The MP for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam noted that since the issue has been sent to court by the 40 former members of parliament, the court would have to decided the veracity or otherwise of the case. “As MP, if you are in parliament, there is nothing like pension but they are arguing that Chinery-Hesse Committee had recommended it. We have to leave it to the courts to decide, the Attorney General is competent” Cassiel Ato Forson said. By Bright Dzakah/Onua 95.1FM/editors.3news.com