Approval of ex-gratia payments for former public office holders will be one of the major issues Parliament will consider as they return to work today Tuesday. Cabinet has already submitted the Ishmael Yamson Committee’s report – which reviewed ex-gratia prescribed by the Justice Mary Chinery-Hesse Committee – to the speaker. The Yamson committee reviewed ex-gratia payments to former President Kufuor, his vice-president and former public office holders including Members of Parliament (MPs). The new administration set up the committee following public outcry for what was then described as the excessive retirement packages. Deputy Majority Leader John Tia tells Joy News the house will surely consider the emolument package before it rises for the Christmas holidays. He said Parliament has some 29 bills and 33 papers to consider. Minority MPs have long maintained the review of the ex-gratia is unconstitutional. Debate on the matter promises to be heated as the MPs return from the three-month break. In an exclusive interview with Joy News on Monday, former vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama told Joy News government must speed up payment of the ex-gratia package as its delay was gravely inconveniencing. Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana