The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has refuted claims that the government has increased the salaries of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to ₵35,000.
The clarification follows reports made by Kwame Asare, host of Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, alleging that the salaries of MMDCEs had been increased to ₵35,000.
Speaking on the same platform, Eric Opoku stated categorically that no such increment has been approved by the government. He explained that some individuals have been spreading misinformation that the government has raised MMDCEs’ salaries by 67%, but such an increment would be unlawful under Ghana’s legal framework.
Mr. Opoku further explained that MMDCEs fall under Article 71 office holders. In 2011, a committee was formed to review their conditions of service, and the report recommended a 10% annual increment. By 2016, when the NDC government was leaving office, the salary of MMDCEs stood at ₵16,445.
According to him, when the NPP assumed office, they failed to implement the annual 10% increment. However, after former Local Government Minister Dan Botwe raised concerns, a 10% adjustment was eventually approved. When the NPP government was leaving office, they calculated and paid arrears and ex-gratia amounting to about ₵32,000 to former MMDCEs.
Mr. Opoku emphasized that the current MMDCEs will continue to receive salaries based on what their predecessors were paid, as that is the inherited structure.
He concluded by stating clearly that the government has not increased the salaries of MMDCEs.
Credit: Adom FM
