JM 10% cut real, evidence is there-Emilia Arthur

Former Presidential Staffer under President Mahama Emilia Arthur has dismissed claims by the Controller and Accountant General's Department that proceeds from the Mahama 10% salary cut cannot be accounted for.

Emilia Arthur said reasons for the Controller General's Department not being able to account for the money is because the proceeds were private money and were not paid into the Consolidated Fund as required of revenues generated for the state.

Former President Mahama during his tenure announced that all government appointees will take a 10% pay cut to be deposited in a special account to be used for the construction of Community-based Health Planning and Services compounds or CHPS compounds for the country.

Read also: Over GH₵2M proceeds from Mahama’s 10% salary cut ‘missing’

But appearing before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on August 9, 2017, Controller and Accountant General Eugene Ofusuhene, said former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah in a letter ordered the transfer of the amount in 2014, so they cannot account for the money. 

In response, Emilia Arthur said the money was transfer in 2014 upon request of the Chief of Staff and deposited in an account with the Bank of Ghana. According to her despite the Controller and Accountant General's Department responsible for processing monies being paid to public workers, the 10% salary cut was a private money and there was no need for them to account to the department after using the money.

She stated there is enough evidence to show the monies were used for it intended purposes. She said Bank of Ghana statements are available, vouchers, and even the infrastructures; six in the Eastern region, six in Afram Plains, two in Accra, Central region two Ada East one to prove that the monies were put into good use.