OccupyGhana happy with streamlining of entitlements due Board Members

OccupyGhana has commended the Government on its directive to public service organisations to streamline the payments of sitting allowances to members of State Boards, Authorities and Councils.

However, it urged the Government to do more to end all unjustified entitlements that have been paid over the years, saying, ”Certain Boards and Board Committees are known to meet several times a month, and, such meeting are repetitive and meaningless.

“We are aware of Board and Board committee meetings that are called without agenda, ostensibly just to review minutes of a previous meeting”.

In a letter addressed to the Chief of Staff and copied to the Ghana News Agency, the pressure group also said the State should not also fund the training of Board members, especially, when they were travelling outside the country.

“Government has to cut out expenses associated with the Board Members and members of Board Committees that they are entitled to training and conferences, especially abroad,” it said.

“We believe that it is on the basis of a person’s experience and knowledge that gets that person to serve on a board or board committee. That knowledge and experience are not to be acquired after appointment and at the expense of the tax payer.

“The payment for the cost of training, costs of airfares, hotel expenses and per diem should be cancelled.”

OccupyGhana said some Board and Board Committee members had essentially become parallel structures to those existing in the entities, and they insisted on undertaking work that would ordinarily be undertaken by employees of the entities.

Others, it said, insisted on touring facilities or educating the public in all 10 regions.

It emphasised: “Even more are the scandalous and ridiculous travel budgets presented for approval.

“Some Boards and Board Committees do not need people who are there to line their pockets with undeserved allowances, enjoy paid travel and acquire personal career development.

“We reiterate a point we made in our Press Statement, dated May 20, 2018, that no board member is entitled to monthly remuneration, an office, official accommodation, and official vehicle, etc.

“To the extent that any such facilities have been, or are being, provided, they are unlawful”.

Source: GNA