Opinions of Friday, 5 October 2012

Columnist: Sarpong, Justice

The MP's Pay Increase, The Tsunami Effect

"The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana have cast doubts on the government's ability to meet fiscal targets. They also pointed out the 67.7% of Ghana's public expenditure on salaries, and said that the salary increases must be matched by increased productivity."

Folks, we really do need 45 more Members of Parliament, don't we? This country of ours is zooming on a high speed into a grand canyon if we don't stop the drunk Driver on the wheels. Do we know what we have just done having added 45 more MP's and given them 130% pay raise? Do we know the Tsunami effect of what we have just done? Do we know the constitutional implication for the stupidity we have wrapped around our necks?

The constitution if my memory serves me right stipulates that, the Members of Parliament pay should be pegged to that of the High court Judges and Deputy Ministers. Right, sit down and take a Q-tip and remove the wax from your ears and listen to me real good. Now all the High Court Judges in the country are also going to receive this 130% pay increase likewise people like Hanna Bissiw, Fiifi Kwetey, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Kobby Acheampong etc are all going to cash in. Folks, this is a constitutional mandate and it triggers in automatically like the 45 created constituencies that automatically became law on Wednesday October 3rd. Now all the Deputy Ministers and the High Court Judges will see their salaries go up by 130% and more likely will be retroactive from January 2009. Where does it stop? Not on the doorsteps of the Deputy Ministers and the High Court Judges if you can guess where I am going.

The Supreme Court Judges are mandated by the constitution to receive higher pay than the High Court Judges so the Supreme Court Judges are also going to receive a pay increase windfall likewise you cannot pay the Deputy Ministers more than the Minister, can you? So all the 40 something Ministers are going to receive their jackpot money.The hummingbird just whisppered in my ears that, the MP's pay is also tied to that of the Communication members at the Castle and if that is the case, then people like Ofosu Kwakye, Boamah Otukonor, Nii Vanderpuije and others can also expect a merry Christmas from Father Christmas or what we in USA call,SANTA CLAUS.What have we done to ourselves as a country because Kwadwo Afari Djan and a sick President wanted to show where power lies avoid a boycott by the MP'S so he was held hostage by them and Mills was forced to cave in to the demands of the Sharks and Piranhas in Parliament and this is one of the legacies "ASOMDWEHENE" left for us.

Ghana is in trouble if we spend 2/3 of our budget on salaries alone.Despite this known fact, this administration insisted in creating 45 Districts and 45 constituencies to increase government salary expenditures. Now we are going to have Assemblymen and other workers at the district and Constituencies whose salaries are going to add up to the 67.7% we are spending now. With social intervention program expenses and interest on servicing our debts, Ghana is left with less than 15% of our yearly budget to undertake infrastructure development, that is really low. We should be as a third world country be using at least 50% of our budget on developmental projects not 15%. When you expect government to reduce its expenses to have more money to undertake developmental projects, here we are adding about hundred million dollars if not more to government salary expenditure and these pen robbers are telling us we don't have money to give free education to our children but we have money to put it in their protruding beer stomachs.

DO YOU SEE NPP, NDC, CPP, PPP or any alphabetical soup opposing this daytime robbery?

When it comes to money, you will not hear any disagreement between the Umbrellas and the Elephants or the CPP Cockreal,what a sad day for Ghana. Not only did they receive 130% pay increase but they made it retroactive from January 2009 that means each MP is owed $110,000, a whopping $25 million salary expense government has added to its bourgeoning salary budget which now stands at 67.7% of government budget outlay. People, don't exhale yet, beginning in January, these MP's will also qualify to take home another $50,000 each as Ex-gratia, that is another $11.5 million expense, almost 40 million dollars these pen robbers called MP's will saddle the poor Taxpayer with.

How can these MP's look in the face of the Watchmen at the Ministries who earn about GH200 a month and tell them they feel their pain? Christmas came early for these thieves and Ghanaian workers should lay down their tools of work and demand these people stop this nonsense or they give them the same 130% pay increase retroactive from January 2009, NO COMPROMISE HERE.

Ghanaian Politicians are not even intelligent or they are blinded by the color of money. This is a time the Rich Mp's should stand up and refuse the pay increase and win the hearts of Ghanaians. The other MP's that call themselves Social Democrats, can they stand up and refuse this bonanza? These fools did not buy a dime of Ghana lottery ticket but have won jackpots.

Kennedy Agyapong, can you stand up and refuse this money? Show that you are rich and don't need this stealing on your RESUME(CV)

Alba Bagbin, will you stand up and refuse a real "BLOOD MONEY"? You damn!! Sister-in-law lover.

Justice Sarpong

Houston, Texas

(CARDINAL of TRUTH)