Member of the Communication Team of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dela Edem says his boss, former President John Dramani Mahama should not be given the Bungalow No.3, Prestige Link, Cantonments and its adjoining facilities as his official retirement home.
According to him, it is wrong for former President Mahama to keep the Cantonments residence which is originally meant for the Vice President as his retirement home, whereas former President John Agyekum Kuffour was given nothing in his retirement despite the Chinery Hesse Committee’s recommendation to provide him with certain facilities for his retirement.
Speaking on Peace Fm’s The Platform evening political talk show, Dela Edem insisted that since some NDC stalwarts condemned the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey for buying the state bungalow after leaving office, it is that same manner the idea of President Mahama keeping the Cantonment residence must be condemned.
“ . . since former President Kuffour was given nothing (residential facility) as a retirement package, in that same manner, ex-President Mahama cannot keep the Cantonment residence as his official retirement home. He can only keep the residence as his retirement home if former President Kuffour will be given same for his retirement package,” he argued.
He however condemned the idea of giving state facilities as retirement packages for people who have served as public officers.
The NDC activist comment comes against the backdrop that the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah during the transition period wrote to the transition team of the incoming Nana Addo’s led administration to give Bungalow No.3, Prestige Link, Cantonments, Accra and its adjoining facilities as his official retirement home.
The letter also requested to keep Bungalow No.6, 3rd Avenue, Ridge, Accra as office for former President John Dramani Mahama, despite the fact that many have said the Presidential Emoluments Committee report headed by Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh did not include the two residences as his retirement benefit.
According to the report, the outgoing President, while on retirement will receive benefits such as state-provided staff not exceeding four (4) and a furnished and up-to-date office and communication equipment and staff support consisting of a cook, steward and gardener.
Instead of going home with a fully furnished house in Accra and another location of his choice outside the capital, President Mahama will rather receive “40 percent of [his] salary to be paid monthly.”
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. Two vehicles for security.”
For transport, President Mahama will 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 will also be entitled to free healthcare.
Other benefits include the payment of utilities at his residence.
Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh
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I don't even know how to describe that ***barred word***, JM.He bought a house for Madam Akua Donkor but didn't think twice about where he will reside after leaving office.Mahama doesn't think far at all.After busily stealing and siphoning our our cash,he now wants to have a property meant for any sitting vice president in Ghana here.Does he think Nana Addo and his gov't fear him or what?He should be sacked one time.What did he do for ex Prez Kufuor rather than to watch his party footsoldiers eject the poor old man from a tiny office he was suppose to use at that time.JM is a ***barred word*** and a criminal by all standards.
This is ***barred word*** at its highest level want did mahama do with his exgratia as an mp and minister of state even so as an asemblyman Let him inquire from ssnit how much civil servants are paid on retirement.***barred word***
Dela thank you.. Am a strong NDC supporter but i wept when i first head the story.... it is just wrong morally for My Former President to ever and i repeat ever think of taking that house... see how Jack was insulted even after his death... does my Mahama want his name to be associated with that... its just wrong, pls Mahama am saying this out of pain, just pack out of that house... i wish i have money or even working i would have buy or contributed to buy you a house any in Accra or the same location as the current one.
Mahama is not keeping that residence. He has 24 hours to vacate the residence.
We go around borrowing money form other countries and yet we are able to splash money on our ex leaders were they not paid whilst in service to the nation? if they were, then what is on offer is too much to give away. Even the rich countries we go to borrow from do not give away this much money.
Dela, You are the most honorable guy i have encountered online. You truly called out your immediate former boss? You are a brave man with integrity. I hope you get to read my comments.
open letter to nana addo and all ghana people, mr martin hamidu has come out with a revelation, he said that some chiefs are telling nana addo not to prosecute mahama and hs ***barred word*** n,d,c ministers, if nana ddo spear any minister, mahamm and his families we will sack nana addo in one month time, we want our monies form mahama and his minister,s ghana people are starving and we need our $37 billion dollars loans and other monies, now or never, this is from poor, ,hungry people all over the world, note, we will collect all the cars, house and properties from the chiefs, n,d,c ministers have send the chiefs to go and beg nana addo spaer n,d,c, looters, god forbid
Is Mahama hiding stolen money in that house?
Dela u have won my respect. God bless you for telling the truth
We are a country of laws. A president hijacks a facility meant for vice president and then says am keeping it for good. Anybody looking for instances of Mahama's level of greediness and corruption, here you are. JM this is not good on your already battered reputation. You cant have it and you should not have it. It is meant for vice president and therefore should remain as such. We are tired of your greediness. We pray God does not give Ghana this type of president ever again in our nation.