The Minister of State responsible for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has clarified that members of President John Dramani Mahama’s newly formed Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy (PAGE) will not be paid for their services.
Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show on Friday, January 16, Mr Kwakye Ofosu explained that the advisory body is made up of accomplished professionals who are not employed by government and, therefore, are not entitled to salaries or allowances.
According to him, there is currently no arrangement for remuneration, noting that many members of the group are already engaged in other professional roles, including academic positions within public universities.
“At this point, I am not aware of any remuneration,” he stated. “They are not permanent government staff. Some of them are lecturers who are already on the public payroll, so there is no additional payment attached to this role.”
He further indicated that the advisory group will independently decide how often it meets and how it carries out its work, without imposing additional financial obligations on the state.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu stressed that the primary responsibility of the group is to closely monitor economic developments and ensure that government policies translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Distinguished Membership
The Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy brings together some of Ghana’s most respected figures from academia, finance and the private sector. Members include economist and private sector leader Kwame Pianim; former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor; industrialist Sir Sam Jonah; and business executive Ishmael Yamson.
Also serving on the committee are former World Bank infrastructure specialist and agribusiness investor Ato Brown; former Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Henry A. Kofi Wampah; economist and traditional leader Togbe Afede XIV; Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Stock Exchange, Abena Amoah; and University of Ghana professors Priscilla Twumasi Baffour and Patience Aseweh Abor. Former Deputy Minister for Finance and Trade, Nana Oye Mansa Yeboaa, is also a member.
Emphasising the spirit behind the appointments, Mr Kwakye Ofosu dismissed suggestions of personal gain, saying members were motivated purely by national service.
“They are not here to make a quick buck,” he said. “They have been invited to place their expertise at the service of the country because we need strong, experienced hands to guide the management of our economy.”
Mandate of the Advisory Group
According to the Presidency, PAGE is expected to provide high-level strategic advice on key economic priorities, including macroeconomic stability, fiscal consolidation and debt sustainability. The group will also support coordination between fiscal and monetary policy.
Its scope further includes guidance on structural transformation, industrialisation, competitiveness and export-led growth, as well as sector-specific development strategies, private sector expansion, investment mobilisation and sustainable job creation.
