I am still struggling to accept that I have to live with electricity for about 60 hours out of a 7 day week, that my transportation to and from work in a month is just about the amount the Government pays me for being a National Service Person, and a million other issues- but then I’m not a Minister for the government of Ghana!

It can be generally accepted that the country is in a terrible state, far worse than anyone can remember in recent times. The level of cluelessness/or incompetence exuded by this current government in the attempt to solve the many issues facing the country is staggering- yet it looks like they are being paid handsomely for the zero output they have put out so far.

An exposé run by the Chronicle quotes figures that, if true, should put every Ghanaian into a very deep depression. If these are the official earnings being made, you should shudder at the ‘unofficial’ ones. The obvious conclusion though is that; if you want to make something out of yourself with minimum work, become a politician.

The publication, run on citifmonline, claims the basic monthly salary of a minister is Ghc 10,000. Aside that are some allowances, all of which when joined to the salary makes up a monthly take home sum of Ghc 22,500.

The description of some of the allowances though, baffles the mind. There’s Duty allowance of Ghc 5,000, Special allowance of Ghc 3,000, and Entertainment and Wardrobe allowance of Ghc 3,500.

Why, are they supposed to have a private audience with a top artiste every month? Entertainment and Wardrobe allowance paa?

Don’t throw up yet, because we have the other basic amenities; 45 gallons of fuel a week, fully furnished accommodations, a 4×4 Land Cruiser, a saloon car, plus other miscellany.

Ex-gratia, which you receive at the end of your tenure, is also set at Ghc 400,000.

So there you have it, the large living of our ministers of state; living the Ghanaian dream. Ghana itself is broke, but the people running it sure as hell aren’t!

So for every night you sleep without light, for every fuel price increase; remember the big men up there who are making it all possible- filling their big bellies to the brim whilst the nation teeters on the verge of collapse.

Cry, The Beloved Country.