The Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr John Kwakye, has called for the removal of Article 71 from the constitution which talks about salaries and allowances payable to the office holders captured under that particular article.
Article 71 of Ghana’s constitution states as follows:
The salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities and privileges available, to-.
a. The speaker and deputy speakers and members of parliament;
b. The chief justice and the justices of the superior court of Judicature;
c. The Auditor-General, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman Of the Electoral Commission,
d. The Commissioner For Human Rights And Administrative Justice And His Deputies And The District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator;
e. the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the other members of,
(i) a National Council for Higher Education, howsoever describes.
ii) the Public Services Commission,
iii) the National Media Commission
iv) the Lands Commission and
v) The National Commission for Civic Education being expenditure charged on the consolidated fund, shall be determined by the president on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by the president acting in accordance with the advice of the council of state.
But Dr Kwakye says this provision “is an archaic provision that needs to be expunged from the Constitution.”
He tweeted this after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, August 31 inaugurated the committee with the responsibility of determining the emoluments and privileges of Article 71 officeholders.
He further 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.
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
- Madam Gloria Ofori Buodu – Member
- Dr. Osei-Akoto – Member
- Mr. Ben Arthur – Member