Parliament holds close door meeting to consider emoluments

Accra , Jan 21, GNA - Members of Parliament on Friday held a close door meeting to come out with a proposal defining the terms and conditions for an increase in their personal emoluments. This is in line with article 71 (1a) of the 1992 Constitution which has to do with the salaries and allowances payable and the facilities and privileges available to the Speaker and Deputy Speakers and members of Parliament.

Mrs Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, Speaker of Parliament, made the announcement early Friday morning after the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, read the business statement for the week ending Friday 28th January 2011.

Mr Avoka said the house would devote a greater part of the ensuing week to the consideration stage of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, 2010.

Mr Avoka said Ministers might attend cabinet meeting on January 27 and would not be in the house for any work. Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, MP Old Tafo, for asked when the formulae for statutory funds would arrive in the house for approval because the respective institutions need funding to implement their programmes, policies and objectives.

Nana Akomea, New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South, in an interview with the GNA said the salary scale of the Ghanaian MP was embarrassing because for an MP to receive 2,000 dollars a month was not enough.

He said there was a criterion that is used to determine the salary level that included a look at the relativity with regards to public and civil service salary structure or the general salary level. Nana Akomea questioned which category an MP was equivalent to, "is it a Managing Director or an Editor of a Public Media organisation?" Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader and NDC member for Wa Central, told the GNA that salaries MPs were earning were too small. According to the constitution any proposed amount would be charged on the consolidated fund and determined by the President. 21 Jan. 11