Ghana’s Second Lady Samira Bawumia Bows to Public Outrage, Set to Refund Allowances

Ghana’s Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia says she will refund all allowances paid to her by the state since 2017.

Mrs Bawumia, the wife of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in a press release issued by her office said she will also not accept any monies allocated to her pursuant to the recommendations which were approved by Parliament.

“The Second lady, H.E Samira Bawumia in consultation with H.E. The Vice President, will refund all allowances paid to her since 2017 and will not accept any monies allocated to her pursuant to the recommendations of the Prof. Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu led committee, as approved by Parliament on 6th January 2021,” the release said.

“Mrs. Bawumia continues to be committed to the service of the nation; to deliver humanitarian interventions and initiatives in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment”.

Mrs Bawumia’s decision comes hours after the First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo similarly rejected all allowances due her and decided to refund sums paid her by the state since 2017.

Their actions come after a raging public debate over the Parliamentary approval of a recommendation for the First and Second Ladies to receive monthly salaries.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has rejected the payment of monthly salaries for the First Lady and Second Lady describing the recommendation as “inappropriate” and its approval as “unfortunate”.

The practice he said started with the President Jerry John Rawlings Administration and “issues in respect of allowances of the spouses have largely been handled administratively and provided for under the budget of the Office of the President,” he said in a Facebook post.

“The spouses of the President and Vice President are not captured among Article 71 Office Holders and therefore there is no legal or constitutional basis for it”, he added.

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