Lawyer calls for review of law on multiple income earnings of government workers

A private legal practitioner, lawyer Apraku Nketia has called for a review of the law against double earnings in government departments.

He said this will set the records straight, to avoid any form of inconvenience or fraudulent exposure to unsuspecting victims.

Lawyer Apraku Nketia was commenting on the legal implications of the double salaries drawn by some Members of Parliament (MPs) in the erstwhile NDC government, under ex-president John Dramani Mahama, on Suncity Radio, Friday morning.

He explained that if investigations proved that the MPs involved deliberately enjoyed the double salaries, then criminal charges could be levelled against them and subsequently prosecuted. However, according to the Lawyer, if they were cleared of any wrongdoing, then they could be asked to refund the amount involved or return same to government chest.

Mr Apraku Nketia referred to a similar situation in 1968, when a Circuit Court convicted an official for a similar offence, but the verdict was overturned at the Appeals Court, presided over by Justice Adumuah, because it found no wrongdoing on the part of the victim.

“I find this law on double salaries in government departments, quite intriguing and need some review and clarifications. Take, for instance, a Cleaner at Department ‘A’ who completes her schedule by mid-morning, can’t that person go to do some other job at Department ‘B’, for the rest of the day?” he told Morning Show host Nana KAS, concluding the interview.