The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has questioned why the Auditor General’s Reports did not capture the double payment of emoluments [salary] to some Ministers and Members of Parliament in the erstwhile Mahama administration.
To him, systems failure was the cause of the double payment since it looks like the Finance Directorate at the Presidency during President Mills and President Mahama’s tenure were not talking to the Finance Directorate of Parliament.
“How come that all these years, these matters have not found expression in the Auditor General’s report, because the Auditor General should have also chanced on this? Don’t forget that we are dealing with the period from 2013 to 2016, have we gone back to 2009 to 2012, we haven’t,” he said.
Calm
Already, Parliament has called for calm and circumspection among the general public pending investigations over the alleged irregularities in the payment of emoluments to some Members of Parliament (MPs) who were also ministers in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
A statement signed by the acting Director of the Public Affairs Department of Parliament, Mrs Kate Addo, said Parliament was yet to prove the offence of criminality in the said matter hence the need for calm.
The statement said Parliament would like to implore the police, MPs and the general public to remain calm and circumspect in their comments until the full facts of the matter were determined.
However, it said Parliament had pledged to cooperate fully with appropriate law enforcement agencies in investigating the matter as it sought to enhance transparency and accountability.
Media report
Last week, it emerged that some MPs who served as ministers in the NDC administration allegedly received double salaries [emoluments].
According to the police, the alleged action by the MPs is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), as amended in 2012, Act 849. Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing.
Those who allegedly received the double payments are said to have received it for periods of two to four years.
When did it start?
In 2013, 22 appointees allegedly received double salaries as against 18 in 2014.
In 2015 and 2016, 15 and 12 appointees respectively took double salaries.
From 2013 to 2016 when the NDC was in office, some of the appointees were captured in all the data collated as having received double salaries.
The list shows that some appointees received double salaries at least once a month, while others received them monthly throughout the years.
CID Invitation
Initially, 25 NDC MPs were said to have been invited by the CID, but the Minority in Parliament held a press conference on April 10, 2018 to debunk the allegation.
Since then, some nine NDC MPs have reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with allegations that they took double salaries.
Majority Leader’s narration
According to the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the CID earlier contacted the Speaker of Parliament for him to waive the immunity of the MPs who were involved so that they could be questioned.
He said the initial reaction of Parliament was for the CID to allow space for Parliament to do some reconciliation on the matter and to enquire from the Finance Directorate of Parliament, what really happened.
Gratuity [Ex-gratia]
He said some members are also said to have received double payment for their ex-gratia
Double salary saga: Parliament's bi-partisan committee to commence work
Bi-partisan committee
According to the Majority Leader, when the matter was reported to the Speaker, Parliament decided to form a two-member committee involving Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation and MP for Tafo Pankrono and Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam to touch base with the Finance Directorate and advice to enable Parliament engage the police.
He said not too long after the committee was set up, Mr Ato Forson stepped out and organised a press conference stating what was happening was a “witch-hunt” and that nobody had done anything whereas at the same time, within the fold of the MPs, admissions had been made that it happened and that there should be an intervention on how to resolve it to save the image of Parliament.
He said the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu has since had a conversation on the matter with President Akufo-Addo on how there could be an intervention to help prevent denting the image of Parliament.
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu is said to have suggested that because Ato Forson organised the press conference, it had dented his image and that he should be removed from the committee and be replaced with Benjamin Kpodo from Ho Central.
Reshuffled ministers
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said there were some ministers who were even shuffled out of their ministerial responsibilities but continued to receive ministers salaries.
Separate accounts
There is also an allegation that some of them had two different accounts- one with Parliament and another with the Presidency and some of them are said to have even used two different signatures, he added.
He said his position was that, if anybody has been overpaid, that person should pay back and if any sanctions should come thereafter, that could be determined perhaps later.
Source: Daily Graphic
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I dont know why Osei Kyei Mensah wants to help cover up the krime against the people of Ghana. Poverty is killing innocent Ghanaians and u want to conceal ste.a.ling of the people's money?
I am really disappointed in Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu. He is talking all this rubbish because his Alban Bagbin is involved.
OSEI KYEI MENSAH BONSU MUST BE S.I.C.K IN THE HEAD.
KYEI MENSAH U ARE A DISGRACE TO GHANA DEMOCRACY, GHANA PEOPLE WILL MATCH TO THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND SACK U ALL SOON, WHEN PARLIAMENTARIAN HAVE STOLLLEN , U ARE SAYING WE SHOULD ALLOW THEM TO PAY, GO AND ALLOW ALL IN PRISON TO PAY THEIR MONIES, SHAME TO STATE THIEEEFS AND PEOPLE LIKE U, GH PP
The most ***barred word*** and ***barred word*** majority leader npp has ever had mensah bonsu prepare to step down next parliament ***barred word*** why are you defending this criminal? big ***barred word***
We will demonstrate against parliament until those who will be found to kriminally receive double salary resign from parliament and face the law.... no one is above the law..... Asking them to just refund the money will open the floodgate for everyone else doing same........ Parliament must set a good example for all of us to follow.
The MPs must refund the money and resign as well. We will not accept any cover up.
It is so sad that both majority and minority leaders are working together to protect the image of so called "honorables" who have stolen from the state. Ordinary Ghanaian will go to jail on same issue. Senators and House members in the United States face the law squally in criminal matters. if these people are not allowed to face the law, then Martin Amidu cannot go after any public or civil servants who commit same offence. These MPs are criminals; they were aware just they kept the money all these years. The foreign partners are watching.
They must refund the money and face the law..... They are th.i.e.ves who knew they were taking double salary and refused to report it to be corrected...... That is pure dishonesty. Most are lawyers and law makers who must know better. Only refunding the money is not enough...... The credibility of parliament is on a downward trend....