Atik Mohammed, a former PNC General Secretary, has jabbed those criticizing Togbe Afede XIV for returning his ex- gratia to the State.
The Paramount Chief and the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV has revived arguments about ex-gratia payment to public service holders after he released a statement indicating he had returned a sum of GHC365,392.67 for his service as a Council of State member from 2017 to 2020.
While some people see his action as honourable, others argue he has slighted the other members of the Council who receive their ex gratia.
Broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere has registered a strong opposition to the Chief returning his ex gratia.
Paul Adom-Otchere argues that Togbe Afede XIV must refund more money than the ex gratia because he failed to attend meetings by the Council.
According to him, out of 242 meetings held by the Council in 48 months, the Chief attended only 39 representing 16% but despite his failure to attend majority of the meetings, he “collected all his salaries and other benefits”.
Atik Mohammed, in his submissions on the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, believed Togbe Afede returned his ex-gratia not for populist purposes but rather as his way of being noble about not needing it.
He stated that the Chief is a successful businessman and, unlike other public servants who may not find employment after leaving the sector, he (Togbe Afede) is still well off without the ex-gratia.
Adding that there is nothing wrong with public servants collecting ex-gratia, he, however, found it hard to accept that someone who decides to give it back will end up receiving insults.
"I can't fathom why people are bastardizing him, stigmatizing him, attempting to make it look as if it's a crime to return money to the State," he said.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Why did he returned the principal amount without the interest it generated in his account? He kept the interest to himself. That is hypocracy. Secondly he has the chance to raise this ex-gratia issue with his colleague Council of State members. You don't wait and get the money and make noise to return it.
Hahahaaaa, Emile, don't be surprised if the money left the account the very day it was returned into the controller suspense account. People are using torch lights in the middle of the night to search , create, loot and share and you decided to send it back in broad daylight, Hahahaaaa, their response will be hallelujah, amen oooo, amen oooo and amennnnnnnnn.
Well said, Togbe Afede's decision to return the money is his personal decision and he has the right to do what he did. My problem with him is the reason for which he returned the money, i.e. There is so much poverty in Ghana. Now question is; how sure is he that this colossal amount of GHC 365,000.00 will get to the poor? He should have identified a felt need of his people and use the money to benefit them. We would have equally applauded him for using his exgratia to bail the poor in his traditional area. I am 99.9% sure this money will never get to the poor. It won't. I believe his traditional area have a of challenges in education, health, agriculture, water. These are the felt needs of most rural dwellers. If you think the Ghanaian politician is there in the interest of the people you will realize they represent themselves not the people when it's too late, so when such a rare opportunity comes your way, honest as you are, you let your deprived and marginalized people benefit. Today if you don't have a son or daughter in a ministerial position or in the office of the president, forget it, nothing will come to your people.Our duty is to vote, after that they hijack what belongs to all of us and do with it as they wish. I repeat, this money will never get to the poor.