I never drew double salary as Minister & MP – Donkor

Former Minister of Power, Dr Kwabena Donkor has denied ever receiving double salary as Minister and a Member of Parliament.

There’s a list in circulation which has Dr Donkor and his then deputy Minister, John Jinapor as appointees who drew double salaries during the erstwhile Mahama government.

The Communications Minister and MP for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu Ekuful during the debate to approve Martin Amidu in Parliament, urged the Special Prosecutor to go after such NDC appointees.

“Mr Speaker as I conclude I’ll urge all who have butterflies in their tummy about the appointment of Mr Martin Amidu including those who may have been drawing double salaries to take advantage of the provision to take steps to make reparation as indicated in the Act.”

But Dr Kwabena Donkor maintained that it was impossible for any appointee to have been receiving double salaries as many Ministers who doubled as MPs rather opted to receive their salaries from Parliament.

“I never drew fuel from the Flagstaff House for the one year that I was Minister. Any fuel I drew came from the Ministry, I never drew a penny from Flagstaff House, my salary and appropriate allowances were drawn from either Ministry that is if we’re travelling on official travels or from Parliament as an MP. I’ve never taken, fuel or allowance from Flagstaff House let alone salary. 

“I wish I could talk for everyone but I cannot, in that list my deputy, John Jinapor’s name is in, John Jinapor was not an MP in 2016 so there must be something seriously wrong. What I know is that most women who are MPs including the current crop of Ministers will not want any salaries from Flagstaff House because a ministerial appointment has no certainty, your Parliamentary salary has certainty of a four year period. And in our time the difference in salary between a cabinet minister and an MP was about a GHC1,000.”   

Source:kasapafmonline.com