Anger in Ghana over pay for president’s wife

Ghanaians have expressed outrage at the decision by MPs to approve salaries for the wives of the president and vice-president for the supportive role they play.

They are set to receive the same amount as cabinet ministers following a 2019 recommendation by a parliamentary committee.

The first lady and second lady have always been given allowances over the years as part of executive privileges. Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah explained that this is now being formalised.

But Ghanaians are unhappy because they will now receive cabinet-level salaries at a time of economic hardship.

They could be receiving about $3,500 (£2,500) a month, which is expected to be back-dated to 2017.

Some have also argued that there is no provision in the constitution for this arrangement. The youth wing of the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, has threatened to file a lawsuit at the Supreme Court to challenge the MPs’ decision.

– BBC