Ex-gratia Committee Setup: A Strong Campaign Message by Akufo Addo- Political Analyst

A political analyst who doubles as a financial engineer and an economist Mr. Alex Emmanuel Ntin has said that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo setting up a five-member committee to determine the emoluments and privileges of Article 71 officeholders is a strong campaign because it has been a public outcry for years.

Speaking to Ohene Kinnah on Plan B FM’s late afternoon show EBAANOSEN, Mr. Nti explained that the ex-gratia issue has been a thorn in the flesh of the majority of Ghanaians, and any government that would abolish it could win the favor of the citizens because it is believed that it derails the public coffers and also deprives development.

He said if the committee would be bold and abolish the ex-gratia which is only benefiting some groups of people in the country, the current administration could win the compassion of the citizens and maybe vote for them to continue.

Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has set up a five-member committee to determine the emoluments and privileges of Article 71 officeholders.

The committee, chaired by Dr. Janet Fofie, a former chairperson of the Public Services Commission, will also consider salaries and allowances of political office holders or any other offices the Committee deems fit per the constitution.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, President Akufo-Addo said, “I must indicate that in recent times, [there’s been] 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. Given 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

• Dr. Osei-Akoto – Member

• Madam Gloria Ofori Buodu – Member

• Mr. Ben Arthur – Member

NDC flagbearer John Mahama pledges to abolish ex-gratia for ministers

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to abolish ex-gratia for ministers and other appointees if he wins the 2024 elections.

Mahama pledged in May 2023, during his acceptance speech after being elected as the NDC’s flagbearer.