Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has refunded the sum of GHC237,974.00 to the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, this being the total increment on his accrued salary from January to August 2021.
In May this year, the president placed a freeze on salary increment for all members of the executive arm of government as a measure to mitigate the damage to the public finances as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Addressing members of the presidential press corps in Accra, the director of communications in the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, said Akufo-Addo has written a cheque to cover the refund and has also directed the Chief of Staff to make sure that all his appointees refund all salary increases that have been effected to them.
“You will recall that at this year’s May Day celebration, the president indicated that he has taken a decision to freeze salary increments for this year − that is 2021 − for himself as president, the vice-president, for ministers, for deputy ministers and also all other appointees of the executive,” he said.
“He indicated that it is our modest contribution to help reduce the damage to our public finances caused by the ravages of COVID-19 and also to help hasten our nation’s recovery from the effects of the pandemic,” Arhin added.
He continued: “Leading by example, on Thursday 2 September, he wrote a cheque amounting to GHC237,974.00) to the pensions and salaries account of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to reflect the decision he has taken to freeze salary increment for himself.
“He has instructed the Chief of Staff to ensure that the vice-president, ministers of state, deputy ministers of state and other appointees of the executive refund increments that have so far been made to them.”
Wilberforce Asare
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