Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has reacted to the recent discussions about the salaries of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Acquah explained that MMDCEs are politically appointed and fall under the Office of the Chief of Staff, directly supervised by the Ministry of Local Government.
He said they are considered Article 71 office holders and are supposed to be paid GH₵35,000.
He thanked the government for increasing the salaries of MMDCEs and clarified that the increment was not arrears.
“When the NPP left power, MMDCEs were taking less than GH₵6,000. That was the salary at the time. Even then, the government wanted to reduce it,” he said.
Mr. Acquah also noted that although there were arrangements in the past to increase MMDCEs’ salaries, they were never implemented.
“Even though that arrangement was there, they didn’t implement any of them. When the NDC came to power, they took the system and increased the salaries of MMDCEs,” he added.
Asked if the salary increase was a step in the right direction, he said: “MMDCEs work very hard, and taking that small salary was not good. If it has now been increased, then it is a step in the right direction.”
He further stated that the public service recently received a 9 percent salary increase from the government, and if MMDCEs also benefit similarly, “then the public will judge, not me.”
Mr. Acquah’s comments come after the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, dismissed claims that the government had increased the salaries of DCEs by 67 percent. Speaking on the same program, Mr. Opoku said such claims are false and contrary to the law.
“It is not true that DCEs’ salaries have been increased by 67 percent,” he stated. “No government is allowed to increase the salaries of DCEs on its own. Any government that does so breaches the laws of the country.”
He added: “Since the NDC returned to power, they have not increased the salaries of DCEs because the law does not permit it.”
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