Accounts - Savings

PENDING

FACTS AND BACKGROUND: As provided under article 71(1) of the Constitution, the President of the Republic is enjoined to set up a Committee to make recommendations in respect of the emoluments and other privileges of Article 71 holders and to examine any other relevant matters which the Committee considered appropriate to its work. The Committee compiled a report dated June 2020, and titled "Report of the Presidential Committee on Emoluments for Article 71 Office Holders January 2017-December 2020." The Report was presented to Parliament and the Presidency in 2020. On 6th January, 2021 Parliament approved the recommendations contained in the Report. In the Report, the Committee stated its intention to make proposals to formalize a practice of paying allowances to spouses of the President and Vice-President. The Committee therefore made recommendations to cover spouses of sitting and former Presidents as part of privileges extended to the President and Vice President. The plaintiffs contend that it is not open to the committee to make recommendations on any matter it so chooses and that such recommendation would be ultra vires the committee. Therefore, the plaintiffs are by this writ invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Articles 2(1)(a) and Articles 130(1)(a) of the Ghana Constitution,1992 seeking the following declarations: