Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, has explained why Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) salaries have been increased from GHS 16,445 to GHS 32,000.
The Agric Minister refuted claims that President John Dramani Mahama has increased the salaries of MMDCEs by 67%.
It will be recalled that Omanhene Kwabena Asante, host of Adom TV’s Badwam, has alleged that the salaries of MMDCEs have been increased by the John Mahama-led government.
According to Omanhene, the salaries of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) have been increased from GHS5,000 to GHS35,000.
Speaking on Adom TV Dwaso Nsem, Omanhene stated, “Abena listened, in the past when you were an MMDCE, you were taking 5000 today as MMDCE, do you know how much they are taking? They are taking GHS35,000. Just recently, they were taking 5000 cedis today, 35,000 cedis”.
In an interview with Omanhene on Adom FM, the Agric Minister Eric Opoku clarified that the Mahama government’s increasing MMDCEs’ salary by 67 per cent will violate Article 71 (2011).
According to Eric Opoku, when the NDC was leaving office in 2016, MMDCEs were taking GHS 16,445, adding that the NPP government was supposed to increase it by 10 per cent annually but failed to do so.
Eric Opoku further explained that the accumulated arrears and ex gratia were calculated, which led to an amount of GHS 32,000 being paid to new MMDCEs.
He boldly refuted claims that MMDCEs that the GHS 32,000 being paid to MMDCEs cannot be described as a 67% salary increase.
Speaking on Adom FM, Eric Opoku detailed, “There is a news report circulating from your outlet claiming that the salaries of MMDCEs have been increased by 67%. This information is inaccurate. A 67% salary increase would violate existing national laws. Under Article 71 (2011), the salaries of MMDCEs are permitted to increase by only 10% per year.
In 2016, when the NDC administration was leaving office, each MMDCE earned GHS 16,445. When the NPP took over, they were expected to apply the annual 10% increment, but did not do so”.
He added, “The then Minister for Local Government, Hon. Dan Botwe, raised concerns about this issue. By the time the NPP administration was leaving office, the accumulated arrears and ex gratia were calculated, and a payment of about GHS 32,000 was made to each MMDCE.
This amount has since been used as the starting salary for new MMDCEs. It should therefore not be described as a 67% salary increase”.
Some netizens reacting to Eric Opoku’s explanation stated, “Why should a DCE earn GHS 32,000 in the first place when the average public sector worker earns just 10% of that. How do you expect them to feel it when the average Ghanaian complains about economic hardships? The system is flawed”.
“It will be good for every correct Ghanaian to stop listening to the local radio stations, cos they are all politically affiliated media stations. I saw this in the 2020 elections and since then my current affairs understanding has been perfect”, one netizen added.
“This omanhene guy is a very useless journalist. He lets his partisanship show too much – how could he not know this???”, one more netizen added.
A netizen added, “You were spreading false information, and after being schooled, all you could say is “whichever way “ your first words should be an apology..Wei !!!!”.
Watch the video below:
President John Dramani Mahama has not increased salaries of MMDCEs by 67% – Eric Opoku (Minister for Food and Agriculture)#PrimeRakon pic.twitter.com/fegcHi4jr3
— Prime Rakon (@prime_rakon) November 19, 2025