Nana Ato Dadzies
Check year 2000 August /September (?) Parliamentary hansard on this.
This arrangement was a special purpose intervention from President Rawlings and his 4th Republican government to the Article 71 Committee and formally approved by Parliament by consensus in the Committee’s package.
It was one of the deep-thought out steps intended to deepen political reconciliation and stabilise the 4th Republic. Indeed, the award was retrospective to the 1st Republic to enable all ex-1st ladies to benefit.
The award was adjusted to cover the peculiar case of 2nd Republic where Ghana had both a President (Mr. Akufo-Addo) and a Prime Minister (Dr. K.A. Busia).
First ladies were placed on Deputy Minister’s level under the package.
I had the honour to search for Mrs. Fathia Nkrumah/Mrs. Busia/Mrs. Akufo-Addo/Mrs. Faustina Acheampong/Mrs. Akuffo, all former spouses of ex head of state, personally briefed them and handed over accumulated back-pay to them.
Essentially victims of Ghana’s political history. Of course, Mrs. Rawlings as sitting 1st lady benefitted from same.
Other benefits included a little office and a car. Unfortunately we had little time to complete this exercise to decently rehabilitate these politically traumatized women as pertains in other jurisdictions.
A Vice President was thought had an opportunity to become a President so the wives were not listed at the time.
Just in passing and for the records incumbent President Akufo-Addo kindly arranged and sat in the meeting for the briefing and payment of the benefits to her great and wonderful mother.
I relied heavily on my very able Military Assistant Colonel Lawson who efficiently organized all the protocols.
I had the pleasure of carrying the deep appreciation of these long abandoned 1st Ladies to President Rawlings and the PNDC cabinet.
2001 January 7th, I personally handed over the file to my in-coming colleague Chief of Staff Jake Obetsebi Lamptey who was thrilled and surprised at the depth of work done. He promised to carry on this noble service. I know he started something. I cannot speak to what happened thereafter.
I was and been happily out of public office since then.
Yes, it was considered because we had the case of a 2nd wife pop up (Mrs. Kutu Acheampong).
Decision- Where there are more than one spouse, they share equally whatever is allocated to the office.
2and lady is catered for whilst in office hoping may graduate to 1st Lady.
The Committee makes its recommendations taking into account several factors including the existing wage/salary/ emoluments in the public service generally. This is to ensure that the salaries and emoluments are not disproportionately higher than the mainstream wage/salary/emoluments.
Hope this is helpful. As a transition expert, I believe we need to build bridges among our people in our political dispensation to stabilise our dear nation for the next 200 years.
How old is USA? We must understand that this action was taken even before President Kufour’s era.
The writer is a former Chief of Staff under President Jerry John Rawlings