Former Chief Justice and member of the ninth Council of State, Sophia Akuffo has said payment of ex gratia to members on the Council of State is only a matter of policy determined through a recommendation of a committee set up by the President.
She explained that since members of the Council of State are categorized under Article 71 office holders, their post-service emoluments are generated by the recommendation of the emoluments committee established by the President.
According to the former Chief Justice, Council of State members also fall under article 71 office holders, hence their post-service emoluments cannot be ignored in the recommendations made by the committee set up by the President to oversee the emoluments of that category of people.
Her comment was in response to calls by a section of the public that Council of State members do not deserve to be given an ex-gratia, especially when the Council itself has outlived its usefulness.
