Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Samira Bawumai rejects Yaa Ntiamoa Committee’s salaries for Presidential spouses

The First and Second lady of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo and Mrs Samira Bawumia has announced they would not accept the salaries for presidential spouses recommended by the Prof Yaa Ntiamoah Emolument Committee and approved by Parliament.

In two separate letters from the offices of the first and second ladies sighted by GhanaPlus.com, the presidential spouses said the decision was taken in consultation with their husbands.

“The first lady has decided not to accept the monies that have been allocated to her pursuant to the recommendation of the Prof Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu led Committee as approved by Parliament. She is doing this as a purely personal decision, without prejudice to the right of others and not to undermine the propriety of the process undertaken by Parliament, ” the statement signed by Ms Korkor Bleboo, Director of Communication at the Office of the First Lady reads.

“The second lady and the wife of the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia statement also reads “the Second Lady, H. E Samira Bawumia in consultation with the H.E The Vice President will refund all allowances paid to her since 2017 and will not accept any monies allocated to her pursuant to the recommendation of the Prof Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu led Committee as approved by Parliament on January 6, 2021,” the Second lady’s statement signed by her Senior Aide, Kwame Twum Esq said.

Rebecca,Samira to refund allowances paid them since 2017

The two also announced in the statement, their decision to refund all allowances paid them since January, 2017 since their husbands took office.

The two, however, pledge their commitment to the nation in areas and activities under the jurisdiction of their offices.

The Ghanaian first and second ladies have come under intense public scrutiny following the announcement that Ghana’s 7th Parliament, on January 6 approved for them a monthly salary equal to that of Cabinet Ministers.

The argument had largely been that the country was currently financially constraint to carry out such venture, especially, in the face of the global pandemic, COVID-19 and financial crisis facing the youth.

Source: GhanaPlus.com