Former President John Dramani Mahama’s revelation that the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has denied him his entitlements as a former leader of the country has stirred a hornets’ nest.
Documents in the possession of the Ghanaian Publisher newspaper that includes memos, invoices and payment vouchers indicate not only has the former President been provided ‘some of his entitlement’, but his staff have also been receiving salaries due them by virtue of being staff at his office.
The recent approval of the salaries of Mr. Mahama’s staff who numbered 12 was for August 2022 including that of Public Affairs/Special Aide Ofosu Felix Kwakye and Special Assistant (Political) Joyce Bawa Mogtari.
The documents also showed former President Mahama was allocated two Land Cruisers in September 2021 with registration numbers GS 7419 – 21 and GT 9727 – 21.
In August 2022, another vehicle, a Mercedes Benz E300 with registration number GX 5113 – 22 was allocated to the former President as his entitlement for the year.
Former First Lady Lordina Mahama was also allocated two Land Cruisers with registration numbers GT 9741 – 21 and GT9731 – 21 in August 2021.
The former President had, however, claimed during a television interview that he has had to personally foot his bills, which should have been paid for by the State.
According to him, he receives only his monthly pension like President Kufuor, and like President Rawlings was receiving until his death.
“That’s all I get. I pay electricity bills for my house, and office, I pay water bills for my house and office, and I live in my own accommodation so the state does not pay me anything for accommodation.”
“They haven’t given me an office. I rent an office in East Cantonments. I pay the rent myself. I pay for my own fuel. The State doesn’t give me fuel.”
“I pay my own domestic staff. I pay my own medical bills, I pay my own air tickets when I travel, I’m travelling tonight and I bought the tickets for myself and my wife. So all those things he said are rubbish,” he insisted.
The drama about the former President’s entitlement became a public topic when Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, aka Abronye DC alleged Mr. Mahama received an ex-gratia payment of GH¢14 million in 2013.
He also claimed from 2017 to 2022, Mr. Mahama had been paid his ex-gratia totalling about GH¢15 million.
The office of Mr. Mahama, however, rejected the claims and issued a statement insisting the former President never took any ex-gratia payment at any other time during his 25 years of service.
Invoices in the possession of this paper also show that the state paid the travel expenses of the former President in the sum of US$22,111 in March 2017, and US$43,649 in October 2017.
According to Mr. Mahama, normally when a President leaves office, Parliament approves what should be done but same is not being done for him.
This is a deviation from the Chinery-Hesse Committee Report (2001-2005) which said, former Presidents should receive ‘one fully furnished residence in the national capital and one out-of-capital residence at a location of the former President’s choice; all of which should not revert to the state in the event of the demise of the former President.
In the area of security, the state will provide two security persons to be chosen by the former President from state security and two vehicles for security.
For transport, President Mahama is entitled to be given two vehicles, a chauffeur, maintained and comprehensively insured by the State and changed every four years for life.
For overseas official travel, the state will fully pay for all such trips with his spouse and two security persons.
The state will, however, sponsor only two of such travels per year and those not exceeding two weeks in duration.
President Mahama and his wife are also entitled to free healthcare and other benefits including the payment of utilities at his residence.
This was contained in the Presidential Emoluments Committee on the conditions of service of Article 71 office holders’ report.
The Committee, which is a creation of the 1992 Constitution was headed by Prof. Dora Francisca Edu- Buandoh of the University of Cape Coast with four other members.