Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questions legality of allowances for Assembly members

Former Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has questioned the legality of the allowances promised the Assembly members by the government.

He has questioned the source of the money, stating that the Constitution does not allow such from the public funds, especially from the Consolidated account of the state.

His comments come on the back of the government’s assurance to all Assembly members in the country of a monthly stipend to help facilitate their activities.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, announced a GH¢100 million allocation for the payment of monthly allowances to all Assembly Members across the country.

He made the revelation during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government to Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, where he emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting local governance.

“Mr. Speaker, an amount of GH¢100 million has been allocated for the payment of monthly allowances to all Assembly Members,” Dr. Forson stated.

But according to the former Member of Parliament for Suame, the initiative lacks constitutional backing regarding where the funds would be drawn from.

Speaking at a public dialogue on the 2025 National Budget organised by the Kumasi Bloc Members of Parliament, the former MP criticised the initiative.

“If the President says He is giving the assembly members allowances, where is it going to come from? It is going to come out of the public funds, especially the consolidated fund, but the constitution doesn’t allow that,” said Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

He described as “laughable”, the Minister of Local Government and the Finance Minister’s claim that the payment would fall under allowances.

“The Finance Minister and Local Government Minister say the amount will be an allowance, that is laughable because the constitution defines emoluments to include allowances,” he added.

Meanwhile, the former Minister, during the programme commended the government’s intention to establish a Ghana Gold Board to regulate the industry, regarding specifically, purchases from the small-scale sector.

According to him, if properly implemented, the initiative would be of immense benefit to the state.

The Kumasi Dialogue by the parliamentarians was themed: “Assessing the 2025 Budget: Implications for Kumasi’s Development and the way forward.”