1. When President Kufuor took over in 2001, he realised the spouses of former Presidents were not being treated well so in his wisdom, he instituted the convention of paying salaries to spouses of former Presidents.
2. This convention continued under late Presidents Mills and former President Mahama. Under them, they even increased the rates of these benefits.
3. The truth is that all surviving spouses of Heads of State, current and former, have always received salaries. Lordina Mahama, Naadu Mills, Matilda Amissah-Arthur, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Faustina Acheampong, Fulera Liman etc have all been receiving salaries since President Kufuor’s time.
4. The President does not and has not approved salaries and benefits for the Executive. Under Article 71, the First Lady and Second Lady are not office holders so no one can determine their benefits under that article.
5. However, a committee on only recommended that an arrangement for the spouses be made formal and that received approval from Parliament.
6. So what has changed now is, the convention of paying surviving spouses; current and former has become formal or regularised after the Parliamentary approval.
7. The allowances given the spouses of the former and current Head of State were considered as part of the privileges of the President and Vice President.
8. The propaganda that the President has approved salaries for his wife and Samira can only come from the headquarters of evil politics and nothing more.
9. The President had nothing to do with this arrangements. These activities were done by the committee and Parliament.
10. Don’t fall for false knowledge and information. It can be dangerous than ignorance.
