John Dramani Mahama has responded to those who have called on him to return ex-gratias he has received as a show of good faith to his pledge of eliminating the retirement benefit.
He claims that he is unable to repay his retirement benefits at this time since he is now a “pensioner” with no other sources of income.
Meanwhile, Mahama has issued a challenge to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to clarify their stand on ex gratia payments to Article 71 officeholders. He went on to say that the NPP, rather than criticising his vow to abolish ex-gratia, should explain their view on the matter that is dear to every Ghanaian.
“I say we will cancel ex-gratia, if you will cancel it, you too say when you come you will cancel it. But why are you insulting me and saying I should refund mine? Will you cancel it or not cancel it tell the people of Ghana. I have spent the money already and now I am a pensioner, where am I going to get that money to come and pay back? I am unemployed but they say bring yours to show you have good faith, have no source of income, and you say I shouldn’t work.
“They say the president should not hold the office of profits so you gave it to me, spent it then you come and say I should refund it, where am I going to refund it from?. They don’t understand the gravity of the situation. I do think that for those of them who speak for NPP, don’t understand the gravity of the situation, but is good for our party,” he added.
On March 2, 2023, former president John Dramani Mahama launched his 2024 presidential run with several fascinating promises for Ghana. Several National Democratic Congress supporters and executives met at the well-organized event hosted at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in the Volta Region (NDC).
After nearly eight years in opposition, John Mahama told an enthusiastic crowd at the UHAS’s Cedi Auditorium that he had learned a great deal. The room was filled with shouting, applause, and the tooting of noisemakers.
“I can say with full confidence that I learned a lot during the period and I am ready to be the President Ghanaians are looking for,” he said
In his first campaign address for the 2024 elections, Mahama made several pledges to the Ghanaian people:
John Mahama campaigned on a platform that would end ex gratia payments to politicians serving under Article 71. In his criticism of ex gratia payments, Mahama echoed the sentiments of prominent Ghanaian civil society organizations.
“We will continue and bring to conclusion the constitution review process began by President Atta Mills including a review of the controversial article 71 to reduce the number of office holders, and remove the disparities in privileges and emoluments vis a vis the public and civil service. The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive under Article 71 will be scrapped,” he said.
Source – Tru News Report
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