General News of Thursday, 4 April 2013
Source: citifmonline
Government has released the money to be paid to former Members of Parliament who served in the fifth parliament of the fourth republic as ex-gratia.
Citi news’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Richard Sky said his investigations revealed that each MP will be receiving about 2 billion old Ghana cedis or GH¢200,000; “Each former member of parliament will be going home with a little over 2 billion old Ghana cedis.”
According to Richard Sky “the money has been released by the government into the accounts of the parliament of Ghana and disbursement is expected to be made.”
“I must say that I have spoken to some former and sitting members of parliament who have confirmed that the money have been released except that they are yet to see whether it has reflected in their bank accounts.”
He further stated that former ministers during President Mills’ era have raised concerns about when they will receive their ex-gratia; “Former ministers of state under the John Atta Mills government are angry because their ex-gratia has not yet been released.”
This announcement will rekindle the national debate associated with the payment of ex-gratia to MPs and other article 71 office holders.
Many Ghanaians have expressed outrage over the huge sums of money that is paid to former MPs and former ministers as ex-gratia.