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Portions of the letter headlined "Official Residence And Office" indicated that the request is being withdrawn because it threatens the relationships between the current administration and the former government.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 I had never requested to purchase the property; my request is, therefore, humbly withdrawn,” Mr Mahama added.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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the man Mahama played trick and has deceived Ghanaians. the man new extremely well that he will vacate the premises but he just tricked Ghanaians as if has not used state fund to raised a mansion some where. Grow up Ghanaians ,Mahama has his luxury premises he is going to occupy. inorder to prevent you from talking when he moves to his own expensive building ,you may not citicise that he has stolen State funds to that effect that is why he is pretending as if he has no where to stay apart from the state house he is occupying now. the man keep on playing tricks on Ghanaians and pple doesnt seem to realise. masters he does not like where he is staying one bit. he knew he will exit.it was just a trick on president Nana Addo
G-ree-dy Bas-tard, good riddance!
People like this so called Arab in men's suit will keep ndc in opposition for long hahahaha such people make that party unco*the,uncultured and unattractive. Where were you during Papa Kuffuor's time? Did you see him leaving in a government bungalow? He leaved in his own house till he finished his 8 years. He was supposed to be giving a house and an office which your so called party and President Prof. Mills refused to give him but Kuffuor never said a word,so why is John mahama seizing a government bungalow? American will say 'what goes around,comes around' and what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If you don't allow somebody to get to nine you will also never reach ten. Whatever ndc will use to measure others will come back to hunt them. NDC don't behave like humans when they get power,the first they forget is they will go back to opposition so had to behave well in power as to get a good name in opposition. If they had treated past president's well all these wouldn't happen. Ayariga confiscated Nana Addo's Mercedes Benz immediately they won election in 2009 now he is quiet,like he never did nothing wrong to this man who is the president of Ghana currently and when we tell you ndc are fo*ls they take it as insult. No rational human being who knows no position is permanent will behave like this ndc. You see where hate,envinesssss and jealousy have landed you ndc? Disgrace,disgust and shame is your potion. God is still at work and will disgrace ndc till this evil party is out of our political system.
Onaapo..... But than late
Proud of you JM
Well done JM
Well done. And thank you sir. Life must go on.
We have been made to understand that we are citizens and not spectators and we shall act as such. Nothing will pass without scrutiny.
@Araba, are you still dreaming? After the elections you are still saying all die be die. I am NDC guy but I never agreed to JM to keep the house.