PACKAGE FOR FORMER FIRST LADIES

By A. B. A. Fuseini & Ibrahim Awal

THE government has so far paid a total of ?41,364,716 each to the wives of five out of the eight former Heads of State and governments towards their rehabilitation.

The monies which were paid with separate cheques from the Controller and Accountant General Department covered the period January 7, 1997 to March 2000. Graphic investigations have revealed that Mrs Emily Akuffo, Mrs Mildred Ankrah, Mrs Fulera Limann, Mrs Adeline Akufo Addo and Mrs Naa Morkor Busia, all former first ladies have so far received their cheques.

Three other wives of former Heads of State, Mrs Christine Afrifa, Mrs Fathia Nkrumah and Mrs Faustina Acheampong are yet to receive their monies. This is said to be as a result of their absence from the country and efforts are underway to contact them for the necessary arrangements to pay such monies to them.

The gesture, which forms part of the recommendations in the report of the Greenstreet Committee which was set up by the government to suggest ways of rehabilitating families of former Heads of State, is largely aimed at enhancing national reconciliation and unity championed by the government and other well-meaning citizens in recent times.

It is also in recognition of contributions by the past leaders to national development. According to the sources, outstanding claims from the period April 2000 to June 2000 will soon be credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries. The sources indicate that steps are underway by the Controller and Accountant General to place the beneficiaries on an approved monthly stipend on mechanised pay roll and that adjustments in wages and salaries would be effected in the next payment schedule to them.

Some of the beneficiaries the Graphic talked to expressed appreciation to the President, the government, members of the Greenstreet Committee as well as others who in diverse ways contributed in bringing the scheme into existence. They described the scheme as timely and a positive development in the move towards national reconciliation and unity in the country and urged that other positive steps should be taken in that regard to help move the country forward. They expressed the hope that this positive step would not be a nine day wonder but would function as a permanent scheme in the country’s development so that together “Ghanaians as a people can live and work as one people with a common destiny”.

Some of the beneficiaries however called for greater state recognition of their status especially during state functions and accorded other privileged treatment.

They also called for further deconfiscation of their assets that are still frozen.