Former President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will deal with issues concerning the payment of ex-gratia.
According to him, the 1992 Constitution which is the supreme law of Ghana needs to be amended to as well deal with the entitlement of Article 71 officer holders.
The 2020 NDC flagbearer believes the incumbent Akufo-Addo-led government has derailed democratic gains made in Ghana.
Speaking at a meeting with NDC lawyers, the former President assured that if the NDC is given the nod in 2024, the review process of the constitution which commenced during the period of late President Atta-Mills will continue.
“The next NDC government must commit to the implementation of the review of the 1992 Constitution, which was begun by President John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory.
"This review should among others aim at reforming the judiciary and tackle head-on issues on ex-gratia payments and other matters of Article 71 emoluments,” Mahama stated.
In recent years, arguments have surfaced about the number of officials who benefit from the ex gratia payments and whether there is a need for the payments at all.
After Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, a former Council of State member, refunded monies paid to him as ex gratia, many have criticised public office holders as to whether they deserve the monies paid to them.
Togbe Afede XIV who served as a member of the Council of State, an advisory committee to President Akufo-Addo between 2017 and 2020, while refunding the money stated that “I returned the ex gratia money not because I did not need money. In fact, at that particular time, I needed money very badly to meet various family obligations.
“But I truly believed that the money was not deserved. It was inappropriate for what I will emphasize again was essentially part-time work.”
In 2017, however, Ghanaian lawyer, Elikplim L. Agbemava, went to the Supreme Court seeking clarification on some of the benefits enjoyed by the Article 71 officeholders.
He wanted presidential staffers who benefit from salaries, allowances, and privileges like the Article 71 officeholders, to be stripped of such gratuities, claiming it “is inconsistent with Article 71 and therefore unconstitutional.”
Source: ghanaweb.com
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Chai no one should trust this azaa man, what he is good at is reviewing things very empty chap something that you have enjoyed since 1992 up to date still ***barred word*** from the people of Ghana even in opposition. Kwashia buuuulu you think we are ***barred word*** eh, you had an opportunity to make a change but because your mind set was to looot the treasury with your family and friends, never again are we going to allow such a cr1minally minded person like mahama any where near political power ***barred word***
Wetin we do wey this man dey insult wanna intelligence na so? The article 71 wey you enjoy come pass, you then your senior wife, wey you still dey enjoy. Now you come talk us sey you go review am. For the where? Make you go talk this for your hometown. Mahama, we all we save youooo!!!
This guy is a real hypocrite. You received ex-gracia as well as your wife. You’re still enjoying huge benefits under article 71 office holders. Will you return all the payments made to you and your wife. Will you stop all the payments still being made to you? As a President, why didn’t you ask for a review all the 4 years? This is damn right empty rhetoric and dishonesty from you as usual. Ghanaians are not that gullible to be swayed by such empty rhetoric because you have a record that we can always measure your words against. Just shut it up please…
Can't this man just give us a break? You are talking about something started by Prof. Mills and was not completed. Who took over from Prof. Mills? If you feel it was such a good thing that the Prof. started, why didn't you complete it in the over 4 years you were in office? You got the opportunity, you messed up, and now you are standing outside expecting to get another opportunity again. It is over with you, please find something else to do.