Ex-Gratia

THE ex-gratia award, which was recommended by the Chinery-Hesse Committee, has attracted a wide criticism from a section of the public, many of whom described it as extravagant and disappointing to the Kufuor administration.
The recommendations, which were made by the committee on the retirement benefits for the President, were approved by the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic on January 6, 2009.
They included two residential facilities, six vehicles, overseas travels, medical and dental services, entertainment allowance, non-taxable ex gratia and the establishment of a $1 million foundation for the former President.
Some people contended that this was a deliberate attempt to further impoverish the nation.
This view was expressed when the Daily Graphic interviewed a cross-section of the public in the Accra metropolis. It explained that the economy of Ghana could not meet such retirement benefits recommended by the committee.
Madam Regina Koomson, who operates a stationery shop at the Rawlings Park, noted that although former President Kufuor had served the nation for eight years, it was incredible to give that much to him alone.
“If the President alone should take this benefit, what then should his Cabinet be given?” she wondered.
However, there were those who expressed the view that President Kufuor had served the country for eight years, and so he deserved his end-of-service benefit as proposed by the committee.
Mr Ali Mohammed, a dealer in mobile phones at the Makola Market, said “Mr Kufuor has sacrificed a lot for the country during his eight years reign, so he deserves those retirement benefits”.