General News of Tuesday, 17 July 2018
Source: citinewsroom.com
2018-07-17
Dominic Ayine, former Deputy Attorney-General
The Bolga East MP, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has sued the Controller and Accountant General, the government and the Inspector General of Police over the double salary saga.
In the suit sighted by Citi News, Dr. Ayine said the investigation into the claims serves no purpose but to “harass, denigrate and belittle the applicant for partisan political purposes.”
He also wants the court to declare that the Police cannot probe the matter in an “arbitrary and capricious manner.”
In addition, he argued that the investigation is “null and void” because the Controller and Accountant General has not furnished him with evidence of the excess payments.
Thus, Dr. Ayine wants the police to “cease and desist from taking any further action in this matter until the final determination of this case.”
Background
Dr. Ayine is one of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs said to have received double salaries while serving as both Members of Parliament and Ministers or Deputy Ministers.
25 of the MPs were initially asked to report to the police, but 18 of them were later asked to disregard that invitation.
The Police during its investigation interrogated a number of the accused MPs.
The Minority in Parliament had earlier denied the allegations against its members, saying no crime had been committed.
Per the dictates of public service, an official who occupies both positions is entitled to a single salary, usually equal to the level of a Minister of State.
The MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, MP for Ketu South, Fiifi Kwetey, MP for Wa Central Rashid Pelpuo, among other minority legislators, were investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for allegedly receiving double salaries as MPs and Ministers.
Citi News sources at the CID have confirmed that the findings of the investigations on nine of the embattled MPs have been forwarded to the Attorney General for advice.
A source at the police CID indicated that there may be prosecutions.