Gov’t issues cheque for payment of GETFund, others

Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe-Adjaho, has told Members of Parliament (MPs) that government has issued a cheque for the payment of outstanding statutory funds.

Angry MPs, especially those from the Minority side, issued various threats, including legal action after an unannounced freeze on their HIPC accounts and several months delay in the disbursement of funds into the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), District Assemblies' Common Fund and the Health Fund.

But after a closed door meeting on Wednesday September 18 between the MPs, the Finance Minister, Seth Terpker, and acting Controller and Accountant-General, Francisca Adzroe, the MPs calmed down.

Reacting to the Speakers announcement, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, expressed appreciation at government's quick response to what he previously described as "sheer maladministration".

The MPs indicated they will call off any planned action against the government.

But still some MPs are not impressed by government's gesture. Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annor Dompreh, says although they are calm now, if the payments don't hit the various statutory accounts by Thursday, they will continue applying pressure on government.

In a related development, Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe-Adjaho, will later Thursday take the Presidential Oath as acting President.

This follows President Mahama's decision to attend the inaugural ceremony of Mali's President-elect, Ibrahim Abubakar Keïta. Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur is already out of the country on holidays.