Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has reaffirmed his position on ex-gratia payments to Article 71 officeholders, arguing that the policy no longer fulfills its intended purpose.
Addressing a public forum in Kumasi to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth Republican Parliament, Bagbin explained that ex-gratia payments were initially introduced to combat corruption by ensuring that public servants and political officeholders had their post-service needs met. This, in theory, would allow them to focus on the interests of the people over personal gain.
However, Bagbin noted that the reality has deviated from this ideal. He highlighted that the payments have not effectively curbed corruption and have become unnecessary.
“The issue of ex-gratia is a very thorny issue. The founders intended it to support certain public servants, including political officeholders. It’s not just for members of Parliament but also includes the auditor general, chairpersons of constitutional commissions, ministers of state, the presidency, judiciary, and others. It was meant to ensure they focus on their duties without worrying about their future needs,” Bagbin said.
Speaker Bagbin added, “unfortunately, in practice, it has not served its purpose. It hasn’t been able to assist us in curbing corruption. When I ran for president, I announced my intention to amend this article if elected. I agree with those who say we should abolish Article 71 of the Constitution. It hasn’t served its purpose, and there’s no use maintaining it.”
