Government orders Kufuor to be paid

The government has ordered the Controller and Accountant General to pay former president J.A. Kufuor his salary with immediate effect.The order follows media reports that the former president had not been paid for the past six months.The 1992 Constitution allows presidents to retire on their salaries but government’s freezing of payments affected Mr. Kufuor.A Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Joy News’ Matilda Asante Asiedu the issue happened on the blind side of government.“We are grateful to the media, the revelation in the (Daily) Mail today caught government’s attention and so we checked with the Controller and Accountant General Department…and we were surprised to find out that it is true the former president had not been paid for the past six months,” he stated.He said the department explained that the directive of the government transition team that all payments be halted accounted for the situation.He would not know if Mr Kufuor’s predecessor, Mr. Jerry John Rawlings had been paid for the past six months. “I will have to check on that,” he said.He said ministers and their deputies since assuming office had not also been paid.Mr Okudzeto said the former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has been written to, to submit all medical, entertainment, and utility bills for payments.The Constitution does not entitle a vice president to retire on his salary but the Greenstreet Report mandates the state to pay his bills.However for the past six months, such bills had not been paid necessitating the writing to him by the government to submit any bills for payment.The Deputy Information Minister said work was being expedited on the reviewed recommendations of the Chinery Hesse Committee report so as to give the former president and his vice their due.He was not sure when the report which was submitted to the president last week will reach Parliament for consideration and approval.Mr Ablakwa however expressed the hope that the report will be laid before the House before it rises for the session.
Source:Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline