The Eastern Regional Communications Director of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Mr. Dallas has called for the abolishment of monies being paid to members of the Council of State as an Ex-Gratia.
He believes that with the allowances and privileges enjoyed by the members of the Council of State, they must not be paid for their services to the state.
According to him, being called to the Council of State is an honor because they don’t often do serious politics.
Citing the inefficiencies in the constitution with Kwame Koranteng on Republic FM on Friday, June 10 on the back of Togbe Afede’s rejection of an Ex-gratia paid him for serving from 2017 to 2021 as a council of state member, Mr. Dallas stated that if the country feels it is draining its resources as results of determining salary for anyone, there should be a policy of fix salary for the Article 71 holders and once the person takes the that fix salary it ends there.
“If we feel we are draining our resources as a results of determining one’s salary, there must be a policy of fix salary for these article 71 holders and once the person takes the salary and leave office after 4 years, that’s it.
If we want to make changes, we should sit as a nation and agree but what I don’t agree to is the fact that, we are paying Council of State members Ex-gratia because per our constitution, these are people we believe are State men and since 1992 we provide them vehicle loans and other juicy Allowances and going home you’re being given Ex-gratia, I feel it’s wrong because most of them don’t dabble in serous active politics”, he stated.
