Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed documents that highlight an increase in allowance for Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Board members.
According to Mr Ablakwa, in 2022, when Ghana’s economic crisis exacerbated, approved new rates as per diem and hotel rates for the Board Chairman, Freddie Blay, the Chief Executive, Board Members and External Committee Board Members
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“When a government asks everyone to take financial haircuts due to the effects of their economic mismanagement, we don’t expect its officials to be approving for themselves fat increments in allowances.
“Intercepted memos from GNPC reveal that the Freddie Blay-led board and management have increased their allowances by up to 150% despite Ghana’s economic crisis and contrary to government’s assurances to Parliament of a general pay-cut,” he wrote in a post on X platform.
The daily hotel rate allowance has been raised from $400 to $1000, €400 to €1000, or £400 to £1000, depending on the travel destination.
Per diem for the Board Chairman has increased from $500 to $850, €500 to €850, or £500 to £850, and from $500 to $700, €500 to €700, or £500 to £700 for the CEO and other board members, also based on the travel location, Mr Ablakwa added.
Mr Abalkwa expressed deep dismay over the prospect of doubling the CEO’s salary, stating, “It is even more depressing to read other memos requesting that the salary of the CEO is doubled.”
He highlighted the frustration among insiders, who are reportedly angry over the perceived favoritism towards the CEO, Mr. Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah, who happens to be President Akufo-Addo’s nephew. According to sources, there is a prevailing sentiment that the CEO consistently receives preferential treatment and has his demands met without question.
“I believe it is time to regulate the incestuous discretion of boards and CEOs of State-Owned Enterprises to determine their own salaries and allowances without parliamentary approval — particularly when most SOEs are being terribly mismanaged and making huge losses. I shall in the coming days be proposing new private member’s legislation to end this detrimental practice,” he added.
tigpost.co
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