Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has stated that he is ready to file a writ at the Supreme Court to seek a proper interpretation of Article 71 of the Constitution regarding emolument.

This comes after Parliament in January, this year, approved the Prof. Baidu Ntiamoah Committee’s report recommending emoluments for the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature.

Provisions were made for the spouses of the President and Vice President to receive the same monthly salaries as Cabinet Ministers with retrospective effect from 2017.

According to him, the writ he is filing would ascertain “whether or not the meaning ascribed to article 71 of its holders, any committee can import other entities and sessions into the meaning of those office holder suggesting that emolument by way of monthly salaries be paid to those [First and Second ladies] people even though the constitution does not contemplate them.”

On his part, the National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Opare Addo says the party will support the MP of South Dayi as they also file their writ with hopes that the Court will consolidate actions and bring finality to the matter.”

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Mr Opare Addo said he is surprised by the actions of the committee set up to review the emoluments of Article 71 officeholders.

According to him, the Committee went out of their mandate because they were tasked only to review emolument 71 of its holders and not to add up people to the list.

“How can they be smuggling in people who are not on that list. It still beats my understanding how the President would even assent to this and allow this to happen by this time if you understand the economic conditions under which we find ourselves,” he said.