President Nana Akufo-Addo orally agreed to grant his predecessor his wish to have his official residence as part of his retirement benefit.
That is the claim by the Tamale Central Member of Parliament Inusah Fuseini in a discussion on Joy FM Saturday.
According to him, the two presidents in a discussion before a renowned person, [believed to be the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II] sealed the agreement, at least orally, to have the No 3 Prestige Link residence bequeathed to ex-president John Mahama.
"They met before a renowned person, the president elect asked about where he wanted to stay and Mahama said he wanted to stay where he was living already and Nana Akufo-Addo agreed orally," he narrated.
Inusah Fuseini said it was based on this oral agreement that the December 19, 2016 letter from the former Chief of Staff was written. That letter in part, referenced a discussion, not between the two presidents but between the chairpersons of the two transition teams- Julius Debrah and Yaw Osafo Maafo- and requested that Mahama be given his official residence as his retirement benefit.
That letter provoked serious anger amongst the general public with critics accusing the president of breaking the law.
Section 10 (1) of the Presidential Transition Act stated that the president shall vacate his official designated residence before he hands over to another president.
Instead of vacating the property he put in a request to the incoming administration to have him stay in the house.
Yaw Osafo Maafo who was at the time co chair of the transition team dismissed assertion that the incoming administration had agreed to bequeath the official residence to president Mahama.
He stated it was only a request made by president Mahama, a request which was referred to the legal advisors in the NPP transition team and at no time was any agreement made.
He hinted the NPP lawyers had given the advice and will soon be communicated.
Just before that advice will be made public, the ex-president wrote to president Nana Akufo-Addo withdrawing his request to be given the house.
Inusah Fuseini said president Mahama made the request only because there had been a convention and that request was accepted, at least orally.
But Information Minister designate Mustapha Hamid said even if there was any such oral agreement between the two presidents it would have been illegal.
He quoted the Constitution and the Presidential Transition Act, all of which made provision for how ex-presidents must be housed, insisting for anybody to have met to seal a discussion which would allow president Mahama to have his official residence would have been in gross violation of the law.
He reiterated the point that the December 19 letter authored by Julius Debrah was only a request which was forwarded to Gloria Akuffo, for legal advice.
"There was no constitutional or lawful basis to grant this request," Hamid read Gloria Akuffo's legal advice given on January 5, 2017 as saying.
He said given how ex-president John Mahama treated his predecessor, John Kufuor, he was even surprised that he would make that request in the first place.
According to him, for eight years ex-president Kufuor has been living without his entitlement, a house which Mr Mahama ought to provided him, yet he would want to retire in a home that is meant to house the existing vice president.
"Those who call for equity must come with clean hands," he stated, adding, morality and ethics ought to be important component of governance structure.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
That property isn't that of Prez Akufo Addo to give away, sir.
That fact that NANA asked him to put it into writing does not mean he accepted the deal. Oh. NDC when will you learn.
the so call agreement was under duress due to what is happening in Gambia
Nana did that because he wanted to prevent the same situation in Gambia.
He agreed with nana . So what ? Is the building for nana ?We voted for nana so he has to listen to the people of ghana . Mahama did the right thing by moving out . Like he will see. Ghana will work again under Nana God bless ghana
"According to him, the two presidents in a discussion before a renowned person, [believed to be the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II] sealed the agreement, at least orally, to have the No 3 Prestige Link residence bequeathed to ex-president John Mahama." How on earth can a deal of this nature be SEALED ORALLY by the president? It's really pathetic for a member of parliament who should know better to speak this way. Anyway, that's the way Mahama has been sealing deals orally!
YOU AND I WERE NOT THERE SO YOUR COMMENT IS NOT NEEDED.
Nana addo is one man selected by the people of Ghana to do their will so if the people say Hell No Nana Addo has to obey us. We are holding him by the balls and he has no choice but to do what we want him to do. The days of NDC and Yen tie Obia are over. The people of Ghana via social media, TV and radio. The president does as we please else we will make him a 1 term president. The power belongs to the people. Ghana belongs to the people.
why ***barred word*** people talk like that?
I guess your worst is to chew the house... so you can now have it for dinner, ungrateful myopic people