Article 71 Review is Non-Negotiable in the Enforcement of Fiscal Discipline– IEA

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is making a case for a review of the Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution.

In a tweet, the Director of Research at the IEA, Dr John Kwakye while calling for its amendment said any government that is not committed to this call for a review is not interested in fiscal discipline.

He said “Article 71 needs immediate review to trim the bloated salaries, allowances and other benefits of the stated office holders. Any Gov’t that is not committed to the review isn’t interested in fiscal discipline.”

His comments come at a time Former President John Dramani Mahama has ignited debate on this Article after stating that the government has only paid him GH¢230,000 for salary arrears and denies receiving GH¢14 million as ex gratia.

Mr Mahama said “The only payment that was made to me by government, Accountant General, was my salary arrears of 230,000 cedis in 2013. I will show it [bank statement] to you first, and later if you want we can call a group of you journalists. Of course, I don’t want to publish my bank statement but I can put it before you and you can look through all the payments and see if there is a 14 million cedis payment. I didn’t receive any such payment.”

He revealed that he pays for things like water, electricity, rent, fuel, medical care, and plane tickets himself.

“I receive only my monthly pension like [former] President Kufuor, and [late former] President Rawlings was receiving [it] before he died. That is all I get,” Mahama said.

“I pay the electricity bill for my house and my office, I pay the water bill for my house and my office. I live in my own accommodation so the State does not pay me anything for accommodation.

In an exclusive interview with TV3, Mahama described the claims made by Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party Kwame Baffoe alias Abronye DC as “absolute lies”.

“That’s an absolute lie. He [Abronye DC] says in 2013 14 million [cedis] was paid into my ADB [Agricultural Development Bank] account. I have my 2013 bank statement I will let you look through it and see if there is any 14 million payment,” Mahama told Ghana Tonight host Alfred Ocansey.