Peacefmonline.com can authoritatively confirm that former President John Mahama has written to President Nana Akufo-Addo withdrawing his earlier request to keep his current residence located at No.3 Prestige Link, Cantonments, Accra as part of his retirement package.
The former president personally wrote to the current President, Nana Akufo-Addo rescinding his initially expressed interest.
The letter, which has been sighted by Peacefmonline, is also copied the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Letter
Portions of the letter headlined "Official Residence And Office" indicated that the request is being withdrawn because it threatens the relationships between the current administration and the former government.
“It would appear that these requests threaten to mar the spirit of cooperation with which we as co-chairs of the joint transition team have managed the smooth transfer of power from my administration to yours. I believe that this controversy is absolutely not needed in these early days as the government settles into office," Mr Mahama wrote.
"I do recognise that these are facilities that are conventionally extended to presidents that leave office and I am also mindful of the approval by the Parliament of the republic of Ghana on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at its 22nd sitting of the third meeting of the 4th session.
In the letter, the former president also accused some persons in government of creating the false impression that he requested to purchase the property.
“You would recall, Mr President that contrary to the erroneous impression created by some persons in government and the interpretation given to the former letter submitted on my behalf by Mr Julius Debrah, this was a follow-up to an agreement we had on my choice of accommodation and office. I had never requested to purchase the property; my request is, therefore, humbly withdrawn,” Mr Mahama added.
There has been a massive hue and cry over the decision by former President Mahama to appropriate the official residence as part of his end-of-service package.
Mr Mahama’s critics say his earlier quest to keep the property was unlawful.
The residence, bungalow No.3, situated at Prestige Link, Cantonments in Accra, has been designated as official accommodation for the country’s Vice-Presidents but was still inhabited by the former President becoming President of Ghana.
The residence has been the official house for sitting vice presidents.
Mr Mahama was supposed to vacate the property a day before the investiture of President Nana Akufo-Addo, per Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
A Presidential Emoluments committee Mahama formed before handing over, had recommended that the exiting president be paid 40% of his salary as rent allowance. But after Parliament accepted this recommendation, President John Mahama caused fresh changes in the recommendation which was later brought back to parliament.
Though the Akufo-Addo government has agreed to provide the ex-president a residential facility, it says it has not acceded to the request sent by the Former Chief of Staff of the Former President, Julius Debrah for Former President Mahama to keep his residence as President.
Leader of the new government’s side of the transition team, Yaw Osafo Marfo told journalists: "We have not approved of his request, and I want to repeat we have received the request and the requests are two – for him to be given his ex-gratia where he lives and also be given another property as his office".
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Better for him. Abro ne bayie enti he wanted to enjoy everything in this country. God punish greedy politician.
Used his head for once!
Good, at least with HE. President Nana Addo in power, HE former Pres. Mahama will learn to listen to the ordinary man on the street. At least you listened to wise counsel. If you had behaved this way when you were sworn in as the 4th President of the land, you will have had a lot of goodwill from the people. But now you have a lot of questions to answer in the coming days as the truth surrounding your presidency unveils gradually. You did an Honorable thing by not listening to the Anita Desosoo's , Stan Doge, Omane Boamah, Asiedu Nketia and others who among many caused your downfall including your brother Ibrahim and family. When Ghana speaks politicians will now learn to listen. Time changes and NPP guys I hope you are also learning from the NDC and Mahama mistakes. Wow! My Vote is counting
Make no mistake. Property owning democracy means the government empowering people to own their properties via prudent management of the economy. Who does not want that. Socialist governments claim they are working for the people but actually they are deceiving the people and stealing from them. In the process the people are impoverished the more. We should all dream big and desire to own some property and the government has responsibility as the manager of the nation's resources to help us achieve this dream
I really hope you're not a real doctor - I doubt you are because you display such ignorance and st upidity. your use less president has messed up the country and instead of running away to his mole hole in bole he was trying to steal state property. thie f like that. I hope we never hear from this criminal again. ever.
If I become president I will request for flagstaff house as my ex-gratia. Simple!!!
That is what Ghanaians voted for. Property owning democracy. All their interest is to amass property. Selfish ingrates, you point one finger at NDC and four point back at you. We shall see
I knew Mahama would no longer be interested after all this noise because he is a gentleman. Mahama has served this nation for so many year as teacher, Assemblyperson, MP, Vice President and President so you think he has not got a place to live? Oh Ghana. It takes two to tango, the man has withdrawn, now go ahead.
WELL DONE EX. PRESIDENT. NO U CAN CALM THINGS DONE AND U LEFT US ARGUING. OH HOOOOO MAHAMA. #BYE BYE
Se asa!!! Now back to the Economy. We are eagerly waiting for the money Akuffo Addo promised to put in our pockects when he becomes President. Reduction in utility bills, one village one dam, one district one factory, one constituency one million dollars, reduction in import taxes, reduction in VAT etc etc etc. Its going to be a very interesting 4yrs