A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ken Kuranchie has stated that the agreement on a 10% pay cut by the Executive Arm of government is a clear breach of the country’s constitution. “Article 68.8 of the 1992 Constitutions says that the salary, allowances, facilities and privileges of the President shall not be varied to his disadvantage while he holds office. He can’t do that. There is nobody in this country who can vary the salary of the President,” he said. His comment follows an announcement by the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper on the floor of Parliament that the members of the Executive Arm of government have agreed to a voluntary 10% pay cut on their monthly salary to aid certain sectors of the economy. Sharing his thoughts on the matter on Citi FM’s The Big Issue, Mr. Kuranchie who is also the Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper explained that the Executive is at will to give away their salary but its inclusion in the annual budget of the country makes it a government policy which breaches the constitution. He said: “If he [President] decides to give 20%, 80% of his salary, it is voluntary, he can do that…the budget states that it is under the authority of the President, he has introduced it as law and once it is approved by the people’s representatives, it becomes law.” “How is this fund going to be established? Is it going to have a management? Under what Act of Parliament? These are lawful matters so he is in breach of Article 68.8 of the 1992 constitution, he is clearly in breach,” insisted Mr. Kuranchie. According to him, if he had the needed resources, “I will hire a lawyer, and Monday, I will file a case at the Supreme Court.” He added that if he is able to establish through the Supreme Court that the Executive has breached the constitution, it will be “a fundamental basis for impeachment of the president.”
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 05:41:04 +0000
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