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Ghana�s Parliament has authorised what critics say is a lavish pay rise for the President of the Republic, the Vice President and other key members of the Executive arm of government. At a closed sitting on Wednesday, lawmakers voted to raise the consolidated monthly pay of the President to about GhC12, 000. The Vice President's pay has also ballooned to almost GhC 10,500. Per Wednesday�s vote, Ministers of State and their deputies are to earn between GhC 8,000 and GhC 9000. At the time of filing this report, Citi News could not immediately establish the current pay level of the President, his Vice and Ministers. But insiders say the new pay for the President is thought to be nearly twice what the late President John Mills earned. Before the House moved into a closed sitting to discuss the new salary proposals, in line with the recommendations of the Prof. Ewurama Ardy Committee recommendations, some MPs spoke to Citi News on condition of anonymity and expressed strong reservations that deputy Ministers are to earn higher salaries than lawmakers. MPs recently got a pay rise on the orders of the President, with each lawmaker expected to earn a monthly consolidated pay of GhC 7,200. The figure is nearly GhC 1,000 lower than what Deputy Ministers are expected to earn under the new pay levels approved by Parliament on Wednesday.