I Do Not Think My Work Merited Payment Of ¢365k Ex Gratia To Me; Togbe Afede XIV

The Paramount Chief and Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV says although he delivered on his mandate effectively as a member of the council of state, he does not think that merited him the payment of an ex Gratia after receiving monthly payments for the work he did during his tenure on the council.

This is among his justification for refunding an amount of GH¢ 365,392.67 Ex Gratia back to the State.

“While working on my tax returns towards the end of last year, I received tax receipts from the Council of State Secretary that indicated that some money was paid into my bank account in July 2021 as “Ex Gratia” for my four-year work as a member of the Council of State, 2017-2021.

This, he explained, was confirmed by his bank.

“I did not think the payment was made to trap me as stipulated”, he said and added, “I thought that extra payment was inappropriate for a short, effectively part-time work, for which I received a monthly salary and was entitled to other privileges. So I was uncomfortable with it”.

Togbe Afede said he thereby sought advice on how to refund the amount and subsequently made the refund into the Controller and Accountant General’s Department Suspense Account at the Bank of Ghana on March 4, 2022.

He added that his rejection of the money is consistent with his abhorrence of the payment of huge Ex Gratia and other “outrageous” benefits to people who have by their volition offered to serve “our poor country”.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini