The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, has revealed that the ex gratia paid him as a Council of State member was not deserved because he did not merit such a huge sum of money for serving a poor country like Ghana.
According to him, it will be inappropriate for him to receive GHC300,000 as ex gratia, from a country suffering economic hardships, for a part-time job he did.
“I returned the ex gratia money not because I did not need money. In fact, at that particular time, I needed money very badly to meet various family obligations. But I truly believed that the money was not deserved. It was inappropriate for what I will emphasize again was essentially a part-time work.”
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Asogli Anti-Corruption Day Celebration in Ho, held as part of activities to mark the 2022 Te Za (Yam Festival), Togbe Afede XIV indicated that he was one of the most active members of the Council of State and never received transport allowance for any of the meetings he attended because he registered himself as a resident of Accra.
The former President of the National House of Chiefs entreated persons who would offer themselves to the service of the country to be considerate when making demands from the nation.
“The record I promised my people will be set straight very soon. As to whether I will do it again [return the ex gratia], yes, I will do it again.”
Togbe Afede XIV
Togbe Afede XIV iterated this resolve to reject the ex-gratia because the country is a “very poor country so anybody who sacrifices or who has offered to voluntarily work” for this country must be very considerate.
Dealing with corruption in the country
Corruption, Togbe Afede XIV, stated, is the main cause of underdevelopment in the country which demands the attention of everyone. He urged the youth in the country to be part of the fight against corruption as the country belongs to them.
“It is sad to see how students at the university fight amongst themselves when there’s a bigger battle to fight. There’s no need for Commonwealth’s Vandals and Vikings to fight, neither is there the need for Katanga and Conti in Kumasi to fight. Fight the things that endanger your future”.
Togbe Afede XIV
The former Council of State equally encouraged members of the committee tasked to determine allowances, salaries and other benefits of Article 71 office holders to ensure their recommendations are “within the context of our economic situations”.
“The constitution allows certain payments to Article 71 office holders but yet, the constitution was not very definitive as to the quantum of those payments which means a committee must be created to determine the amount to be paid. The committee when set up in the future, must do a better job.”
Togbe Afede XIV
It will be recalled that in July last year, Togbe Afede XIV returned over GH¢300,000 paid to him as ex-gratia by the state for serving on the Council of State between 2017 and 2020. In a statement, the revered chief said, he does not think it was appropriate to be paid ex-gratia since he “was paid monthly for serving on the council of state”.
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