Speaker for the Ghanaian Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called for the abolition of ex-gratia payments to Article 71 officeholders, arguing that they no longer serve their intended purpose.
Speaking at a public forum in Kumasi to mark the 30th anniversary of the Fourth Republican Parliament, Bagbin emphasized that these payments were initially meant to combat corruption by assuring public servants and political officeholders that their needs would be met after leaving office, thereby encouraging them to prioritize the people’s interests over personal gain.
However, Bagbin acknowledged that ex-gratia payments have failed to curb corruption.
“The concept was to assure them… don’t think about yourself, think about the people you represent because, after your office, we will take care of you. So it was to assist us to contain corruption,” he explained.
He expressed support for amending Article 71 of the Constitution, stating, “It hasn’t served its purpose; there’s no use maintaining it.”
Bagbin clarified that ex-gratia payments are not limited to members of parliament but include a broader category of public servants and political officeholders.
His call for abolition has sparked discussions on the need for constitutional amendments to better reflect current realities in Ghana’s governance.
