Abronye ‘double-salaried’ MPs suit adjourned to Nov 9
It is the case of Abronye that those ministers and deputy ministers who also were serving as MPs at the time drew double salaries in contravention of Article 98 of the Constitution, 1992.
The Supreme Court has adjourned a suit filed against 10 MPs by the Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling NPP, Kwame Baffoe popularly called Abronye, to November 9, 2022.
The 10 former ministers and deputy ministers are; Haruna Iddrisu, former Minister of Communication; Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, former Petroleum Minister, and MP for Ellembelle; Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former Sports Minister and MP for Odododiodoo; Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, former Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Ketu South; and Alhassan Azong.
The rest are Eric Opoku, Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Mark Owen Woyongo, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah.
It is the case of Abronye that those ministers and deputy ministers who also were serving as MPs at the time drew double salaries in contravention of Article 98 of the Constitution, 1992.
He is therefore seeking inter alia, an order by the apex court directed at the 10 persons to refund those ‘double salaries’ into the consolidated fund.
When the case was called on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, both the plaintiff and 10 defendants were absent.
However, the Deputy AG, Diana Asonaba Dapaah was present and thus represented the state and the Controller and Accountant General.
The court indicated that the 11th and 12th defendants thus AG and Controller, had raised a preliminary issue bothering on jurisdiction relative to the suit and thus asked if the plaintiff had responded.
Again, the panel presided over by Nene Amegatcher, wondered why the plaintiff would not rather go to an appropriate forum for those monies to be disallowed and the 10 surcharged.
Moreover, the court was of the view that there was no ambiguity relative to double salary and wondered what the plaintiff wanted them to interpret.
In his response to the above, the plaintiff’s counsel referred their Lordships to Articles 78 and 98 of the Constitution, 1992.
At that point, counsel brought to the notice of the court, the fact that the 10 defendants have still not responded despite the substituted service.
Subsequently, the court gave the plaintiff 2 weeks within which to address the issue raised by the 11th and 12th defendants and duly adjourned the case to November 9, 2022.
Other members of the panel were Justices Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Amadu Tanko, Gertrude Torkonoo, Yonni Kulendi, and Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu
