The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, has indicated that his recent move to refund the ex-gratia paid him for serving on the Council of State between 2017 and 2020 stems from his general abhorrence to the payment of “huge” ex-gratia to persons who served “our poor” country on their own volition.
The clarification comes after he rejected his ex-gratia to the tune of GH¢365,392.67 for a service he describes as a part-time job.
Togbe Afede XIV had served on the Council in his capacity as the President of the National House of Chiefs.
He insisted that the payment was not to trap him, contrary to speculations after he made a refund to the Controller and Accountant General.
“I did not think the payment was made to trap me, as is being speculated,” he stated in a press release on Monday, June 6.
“I believe it was paid to everybody who served on the Council of State.
“However, I thought that extra payment was inappropriate for a short, effectively part-time work, for which I received a monthly salary and was entitled to other privileges. So, I was very uncomfortable with it.”
He stressed that he had written to the Council of State to state his reasons for rejecting the ex-Gratia.
