University Lecturer describes approval of payment of salaries to First and Second ladies in Ghana as immoral

A Lecturer at the University for Development Studies, UDS, Dr. Micheal Ayamga has described the approval of payment of salaries to First and Second ladies in Ghana as immoral. In his view, the 1992 constitution does not recognize the offices of the First and Second ladies for which they are to be paid salaries as Article 71 office holders. According to him, the works of the first and second ladies are largely voluntary and not adequately specified which will be difficult to measure their efforts.
Dr Ayamga in an interview with Zaa news said the allowance and security infrastructure enjoyed by the duo currently is good enough for them to perform their individual activities, hence no need to be placed on salary. He however said the time is not right to implement such as a policy, saying the country’s purse is currently under pressure as citizens are recovering from the covid-19 pandemic.
Parliament has approved a recommendation by Ntiamoah-Baidoo committee which was set up in June 2019 by President Akufo-Addo, to him and to Parliament on the salaries and allowances for First or Second Spouses.
This has incurred the wrath of some members of the Ghanaian society who believe that this has come at a time the public purse is under severe pressure. Dr Ayamga who speaks passionately about the issue indicates Ghana is a country most African countries look up to in terms of peace and democracy thus it should not emulate wrong things from other nations. On the decision of some minority MPs seeking redress in court concerning the matter, Dr Ayamga says it is within their right and in the right direction to do so.
By: Lilian D. Walter/zaanews.com/Ghana