Ganske vidst vil et parlamentsmedlem og en minister kun få en brøkdel af deres danske kollegers hyre – alligevel er det rigtig meget i et fattigt land, som har modtaget dansk udviklingsbistand i årtier, men nu tror på nye tider efter store oliefund.
A significant increase in salaries for Ghana’s president, ministers and other top officials has been criticised by anti-corruption campaigners, BBC online writes Friday.
Parliament agreed to the pay rise earlier this week in close door session. Last month President John Dramani Mahama authorised an increase in MPs’ pay. All rises will be backdated to 2009 – which has caused a public outcry.
“We have the right to know because we are tax payers,” Vitus Azeem, the head of the anti-corruption group, said.
The president’s monthly salary has gone up from about 4.240 US dollar to 6.357 dollar (ca. 35.600 DKR), which is tax free.
The new salary for ministers, who also have benefits such as the use of two cars, a house with staff and an entertainment allowance, will be 4.770 dollar.
MPs’ salaries have been increased by 2.225 to 3.800 dollar a month.
While Ghana’s executive and MPs earn considerably less than some other African parliamentarians – like those in Kenya who earn nearly 10.000 dollar a month – in comparison to other public officials in Ghana their salary is very high.
The monthly minimum wage in Ghana is about 75 dollar and civil servants, such as teachers, earn below 500 dollar (2.800 DKR).
Mr Mahama is the interim head of state following the death of President John Atta Mills in July 2012.
Presidential elections will take place in the West African country in December.
