The controversial ex-gratia payments : 6 MPs PICK CHEQUES* After Asaga's authorisation

Front Page: Daily Graphic, February 9, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
AT least six former and current Members of Parliament (MPs) have already received their ex gratia benefits, government sources have confirmed to the Daily Graphic.
Although sources within Parliament and the seat of government would not disclose the identities of the beneficiaries, they indicated that the beneficiaries received their moneys at some banks in Accra before President Mills ordered the suspension of the payments.
Mr Moses Asaga, a member of the President’s economic team, was said to have authorised the payment of the ex gratia on January 16, this year.
The sources explained that following reports to President Mills that the ex gratia had been paid, a former MP was asked to check on his accounts and he later returned to confirm that the money had been lodged in the account.
That, they said, made the President to call for the suspension of the payments, at which point it was detected that six of the cheques had already been paid.
The President is expected to meet his team of advisors in the next few days to decide on the way forward on the issue.
The contentious issue to address is whether the beneficiaries will be asked to refund the money or be made to enjoy it, since it is no fault of theirs that the money has been paid into their accounts as ex gratia.
The discussion is also to deal with the outstanding MPs as to whether they should be made to receive theirs as authorised or they have to wait until the package is reviewed.
When contacted, a former MP for Zebilla, Mr John Ndebugre, said halting the payments to the beneficiaries would constitute a breach of the four-year contract of the beneficiaries.
According to him, those who had not collected their ex gratia might have to go to court to challenge the decision of the government not to pay the money.
He denied withdrawing his and said he wished he had gone to the bank earlier to withdraw it.
“As I speak to you now, I am dying of hunger,” he said.
Mr Ndebugre said Ghanaians were taking democracy too far and wondered why a demonstration by some people should compel the President to halt what were legal payments.