Agnes Naa Momo Lartey
A MEMBER of the Minority caucus in Parliament, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, is objecting to salary cuts for Members of Parliament (MPs) in the wake of measures by the government to trim spending amid the global economic crisis.
According to her, the move would impinge on their pockets since NDC MPs, unlike their Majority counterparts who obtain pecuniary benefits from their memberships on boards of state corporations and agencies, have nothing other than their salaries.
Last week, the government announced measures to save 50million cedis mainly through a public sector wage cut targeting its appointees, to lower its deficit and address the current economic challenges facing the country.
Among the list is a 50 per cent reduction of fuel allocation coupons for all government appointees, including heads of government institutions, and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) starting April 1, 2022.
This, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta said, would ensure efficient use of energy resources and save the country about GH¢50million annually.
Government has also imposed a complete moratorium on the purchase of imported vehicles for the rest of the year and affects all new orders, especially four-wheel drives.
He explained that the moratorium on the purchase of imported vehicles is expected to reduce, by at least 50 per cent, the total vehicle purchases by the public sector.
But speaking on Accra FM last Thursday, the NDC MP for Krowor in the Greater Accra Region said the government could go ahead to cut down on the salaries of Majority MPs and not Minority lawmakers.
“We cannot use our meagre salaries to support your profligate expenditures,” she asserted.
“How does this government expect us to use our already-delayed salaries to support their lavish expenditures?” she quizzed.
Naa Lartey said NDC MPs would not accept any pay cut until the government stops its ‘undue expenditure’ and accounts for funds it got in the name of COVID-19.
“If the government cares to know, we are using our meagre monthly delayed salaries to work in our various constituencies and see to the needs of our constituents,” she noted.
For her, members of the Majority caucus can go ahead to accept a pay cut since they enjoy the largesse.
Ms. Lartey said she does not believe any such savings from pay cuts would yield benefit for the country, as the government would not use funds prudently.
In this regard, no one dares to impose a decision like that on the Minority since the government has the penchant for profligacy, she stated.
By Ernest Kofi Adu