{"id":100886,"date":"2015-03-19T18:58:21","date_gmt":"2015-03-19T18:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=100886"},"modified":"2015-03-19T18:58:21","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T18:58:21","slug":"mps-overpaid-fight-controller-over-possible-deductions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/03\/mps-overpaid-fight-controller-over-possible-deductions\/","title":{"rendered":"MPs ‘overpaid’; fight controller over possible deductions"},"content":{"rendered":"
A rift has broken out between Members of Ghana\u2019s Parliament, the Ministry of Finance and the Auditor General\u2019s Department over a report that said MPs emoluments were overpaid.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”7CL6gRHLk1K8i2xZJFhCJjH08WbI5N6X”]Insiders have told Citi News<\/strong> that if the dispute is not immediately resolved it could “hold hostage” major businesses and bills pending before the House, as MPs “are very angry”.<\/p>\n The troubles started after the Auditor General reportedly wrote to the Ministry of Finance to notify the Minister, Seth Terkper, that Members of Parliament, especially those who served in the fifth Parliament, received payments far in excess of emoluments due them.<\/p>\n Citi News<\/strong> gathered that the Auditor General’s conclusions were based partly on what one MP called “a very misleading letter written” by former Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman, about emoluments due MPs.<\/p>\n Citi News <\/strong>also\u00a0gathered that the alleged over payment resulted from the Controller and Accountant General\u2019s alleged failure to make the necessary tax deductions from the monies paid to Members of the previous Parliament.<\/p>\n Our sources say the Auditor General has therefore requested the Ministry of Finance to take steps to offset the amounts overpaid each MP against the Member\u2019s future monthly salary or emolument, a position that has provoked anger among the lawmakers.<\/p>\n However, the MPs are also claiming that they have been underpaid and are demanding further payments from the Ministry of Finance, sparking a stand-off.<\/p>\n A reliable source close to the situation has declined to discuss the true extent of the over-payment, except to say “it is remarkably colossal, considering the precarious cash flow problems presently facing the government.”<\/p>\n