Council of State Members from 2017 to 2020 who received over GH¢365K as Ex Gratia
Council of State Members from 2017 to 2020
The Council of State in Ghana is a body of prominent Ghanaians, analogous to the Council of Elders in the traditional political system, which advises the President on national issues.
Formerly, the Members used to be twenty-five (25). But, due to the creation of six (6) new regions, the Council of State Members have increased to thirty-one (31).
For sometimes now, a section of Ghanaians have expressed disappointment in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government following a collosal amount of money quoted as contained in the Ntiamoa-Baidu Presidential Committee’s projection for the Council of State’s allowance.
READ MORE: Togbe Afede refunds GH¢365,392.67 Ex-gratia for serving as a member of Council of State
According to the Committee’s report, the Chairperson should take a whopping allowance of Gh¢28,455 monthly while members should receive a monthly allowance of Gh¢26,266.
Aside the monthly salary, members of the Council of State are entitled to other privileges.
The Members who served from 2017 to 2022 have been paid additional GH¢365,392.67 in July 2021 as Ex Gratia for serving as Council of State Members within the year under review.
Meanwhile, one of the Members of the Council of State Togbe Afede XIV has refunded his payment to the State on 4th March, 2022 into the Controller & Accountant General’s Department Suspense Account at the Bank of Ghana.
According to Togbe Afede, it was a great honour for him to have served on the Council of State for four years, 2017 to 2020. Even though he served as chairman of one of the three (3) committees of the Council, the Economy and Special Development Initiatives Committee, and participated fully in the Council’s activities, he does not think his work merited the payment to him of a colossal sum of GH¢365,392.67, as Ex Gratia, in addition to the salary he enjoyed from what was effectively a part-time job.
“Whopping” allowances for Council of State Members revealed
He explained that, his rejection of the payment was consistent with his general abhorrence of the payment of huge Ex Gratia and other outrageous benefits to people who have by their own volition offered to serve our poor country.
One of the major responsibilities of the Council of State Members is to advise a sitting President of the Republic of Ghana but, surprising, the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that, their advice was not binding on the president.
The ruling got many talking but, there’s nothing the Council Members can do since the ruling is coming from the Apex Court of the Country.
Council of State members receive “Fat Salary” as Ghana bleeds in debts
Some Ghanaians deemed it necessary to know the Members of Council of State who worked with Togbe Afede at the time and have been paid whooping amount of GH¢365,392.67 as Ex Gratia.
Below is the full list of Council of State Members who served from 2017 to 2020 in the same period Togbe Afede XIV served.
1. Greater Accra: Nii Kotei Dzani, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ideal Group of Companies
2. Ashanti Region: Nana Owusu Achiaw Brempong, a 63-year-old chief of Agona Akrofoso and entrepreneur
3. Western Region: Ms Eunice Jacqueline Buah, a 52-year-old businesswoman of Takoradi
4. Upper East Region: Tongo-Rana Kubilsong Nalebgtang, Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area (known in private life as Robert Nachinab D. Mosore)
5. Upper West Region: Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton IV, Paramount Chief of the Tumu Traditional Area
6. Eastern Region: Nana Somuah Mireku, a 63-year-old accountant
7. Brong Ahafo Region: Mr Kodwo Agyenim-Boateng, a 73-year-old retired public servant
8. Volta Region: Mr Francis Albert Seth Nyonyo, a 50-year-old oil and gas dealer from Anloga
9. Northern Region: Bo-Na Professor Yakubu S. Nantogma, a 74-year-old Chief of Bogu, near Savelugu in the Northern Region
10. Central Region: Obrempong Appiah Nuamah II, Omanhen of the Twifo Mampong Traditional Area
Appointed members
APPOINTED MEMBERS
11. Lt. General Joseph Boateng Danquah (rtd), a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.
12. Nana Owusu Nsiah, a former Inspector General of Police.
13. Mr Sam Okudzeto, a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
14. Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, a former Accra Mayor.
15. Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Juabenhene.
16. Nana Kofi Obiri Egyir II.
17. Alberta Cudjoe.
18. Alhaji Aminu Amadu.
19. Dr Margaret Amoakohene of the School of Communication Studies at University of Ghana, Legon
20. Alhaji Sahanun Moqtar
21. Georgina Kusi (Georgia Hotel)
22. Alhaji Sule Yiremiah
23. Paa Kofi Ansong
24. Togbe Afede XIV, Agbomefia of Asogli State and President of National House of Chiefs (ex-officio member of Council of State) – He has refunded his ex gratia into the Controller & Accountant General’s Department Suspense Account at the Bank of Ghana.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
