As Ghana transitions from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, a significant controversy has emerged regarding the treatment of former President John Dramani Mahama. Recent discussions have resurfaced about Mahama’s presidential entitlements, which he claims were not fully provided during his time as a former president.
In a recent interview, Mahama highlighted several issues he faced, such as the lack of office space, residence, and the payment of his bills. This has sparked renewed interest on social media, with many questioning why these concerns are being brought up now, just as Mahama is about to return to power.
Beatrice Annan, a Deputy Campaign Spokesperson for Mahama, has publicly stated that the NPP government failed to fulfill its obligations to Mahama. In her social media posts, she expressed frustration, saying, “For eight years, the NPP treated Mahama unfairly. Today, they say it is regrettable.” She emphasized that despite these challenges, Mahama managed to win the election by a significant margin.
Joyce Bawa Mogtari, another spokesperson for Mahama, echoed these sentiments, reminiscing about the struggles Mahama faced during his presidency. She noted that Mahama was still living in a rented house and operating from a temporary office, rather than the official accommodations he was entitled to. She expressed disbelief that people were surprised by the NPP’s actions, stating that this issue had been discussed multiple times in the past.
Several members of the incoming NDC government have suggested that Mahama should consider a “tit for tat” approach in dealing with his predecessors, implying that he should respond to the perceived mistreatment he faced during his presidency.
In addition to addressing issues of entitlement, Mahama has also made a promise during his campaign to abolish ex-gratia payments for certain government officials. He intends to follow through with this commitment by proposing constitutional amendments.
