First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, rejects allowances, moves to refund ¢899k received since 2017

The first lady of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has decided to refund all monies paid to her as allowances since 2017 following public outrage over the government’s decision to pay her a monthly salary based on the recommendation made by the Presidential Committee on emoluments for Article 71 officeholders.

A statement from the office of the first lady on Monday 12 July 2021, said: “The public discussion has been laced with some extremely negative opinions, in some cases, which she finds distasteful, seeking to portray her as a venal, self-serving and self-centred woman, who does not care about the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.”

“In view of this, the First Lady, in consultation with the President of the Republic, has decided to refund all monies paid to her as allowances from the date of the President’s assumption of office, i.e., from January 2017 to date, amounting to GHC899,097.84.

Below is the full statement:

 Committee Recommendation

The Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu committee report dated 18 June 2020, submitted its recommendations to President Akufo-Addo in fulfilment of the Article 71 provision of the 1992 constitution which enjoins every sitting President before the end of his four (4) year mandate, to set up a committee to make recommendations on the emoluments for Article 71 officeholders.

As part of the five (5) member committee’s report, they recommended the payment of a salary equivalent to a Cabinet Minister who is a Member of Parliament (MP) to the First Lady while her husband is in office and the Payment of a salary equivalent to 80% of salary of a Minister of State who is a Member of Parliament (MP) if the spouse served one full term as President or 100% of the salary of a Minister of State who is a Member of Parliament (MP) if the spouse served two or more full terms as President.

With the Second Lady, the committee’s report recommended the payment of a salary equivalent to a Cabinet Minister who is not a Member of Parliament (MP) to the Second Lady while her husband is in office and the Payment of a salary equivalent to 80% of salary of a Minister of State who is not a Member of Parliament (MP) if the spouse served one full term as President or 100% of salary of a Minister of State who is a Member of Parliament (MP) if the spouse served two or more full terms as Vice President.