Former Tamale Central Member of Parliament Inusah Fuseini has raised concerns about payments made to MPs serving on parliamentary committees beyond their officially approved sitting allowances.
According to him, Parliament has established financial arrangements for MPs who perform committee duties, and any additional payment outside the approved system must be properly disclosed and authorised.
His comments follow the purported disclosure by Asokwa MP and Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei that she had returned about GH¢70,000 allegedly given to her by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.
The nominees involved were 3 Supreme Court judges, Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
However, Mrs Appiagyei has denied any involvement in such acts, following the circulation of the memo in the public domain.
Speaking about the issue on September 4, Inusah Fuseini explained that parliamentary committees are provided with budgets to support their official activities.
Members who participate in such activities are then paid sitting allowances in line with the established arrangements.
He stressed that MPs should not receive additional payments from outside sources for carrying out duties connected to their parliamentary responsibilities.
“There’s a structured payment for members of Parliament, and that is called sitting allowance,” he said.
Inusah Fuseini further argued that payments made outside the approved allowance could create concerns if Parliament has not been informed or given the necessary approval.
He said such payments should therefore be brought before the House for consideration and authorisation where necessary.
