You rose above legality and stood for principle and morality - Togbe Afede told.
Togbe Afede has been praised by the Global Vandals Network for his excellent principle and leadership in returning his Ex-Gratia to the State coffers, despite the fact that he deserved it as an article 71 office bearer.
"We, therefore, believe your behavior deserving of commendation because you refused to take refuge in the constitution as your right, but climbed beyond legality and stood for principle and morals," the group of old students from the University of Ghana Commonwealth Hall wrote.
The GH365,000 returned by Togbe Afede for a four-year tenure and a non-full-time post, according to the group, is big and noteworthy, given that other government workers' pensions for their whole working lives are nothing near it.
Nations live on good deeds, therefore when acts like yours occur, they should be recognized and celebrated, and lessons learned from them should be used to design a new path for advancement in the future."
According to a statement signed by the group's spokesperson, Mr Daniel Nyamadi, and copied to the GNA, the Council of State positions are for people who have made it in life but want to give back to society by serving their country with their expertise as patriots and statesmen.
In light of this, the statement stated that the advantage such persons should receive should be recognition and respect from the Ghanaian people, as well as monetary gains.
"However, we have noticed that the Council of State seats have become a source of income for individuals who serve on it, one of which is the payment of Ex Gratia to them."
Togbe Afede's arguments for returning the money included the fact that the position and job of the Council of State is not full-time, and thus the payments are not deserving, as well as the fact that much money could be channeled into alleviating the lives of the suffering masses.
Despite the constitution's support for ex-gratia payments, the panel stated that "article 71 had become an acute disease on the nation's finances and a drain constructed by the framers without taking cognizance of this fact."
This is an unsustainable load on our national budget, and in a suffering country like ours, that arrangement must not be allowed to remain for all that it stands for, according to the statement.
Some prominent Ghanaians have advocated for the repeal of Article 71 and other offensive articles in the constitution that allow such conditions, saying, "we believe people should honestly serve and not add to their wealth at the expense of the underprivileged people of our country."
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