Mahama promises to scrap payment of ex-gratia

If he is voted again in the 2024 elections, former president John Dramani Mahama has pledged to stop paying ex-gratia to members of the government.

Speaking on Thursday, March 2, at the campaign kickoff for his election as president of Ghana, Mr. Mahama promised to abolish the payment as soon as he takes office. The event took place in the Cedi Hall at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, in the Volta Region.

“The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive will be scrapped. The necessary Constitutional steps to take this will start in earnest in 2025. We will also persuade members of the other arms of government to accept its removal.”

He also pledged to deal with “issues pertaining to the exercise of powers of the president, proper separation of powers, strengthening of Parliament, restoring the independence of the judiciary, independent and quasi-state institutions, and depoliticizing them” in order to rebuild public trust in government institutions.

“These will take the centre stage of the new administration,” Mr Mahama stated.
The moment has arrived, in Mr. Mahama’s opinion, for Ghanaians to demand proper accountability from the politicians they choose.

Only a new party in power will be able to accomplish this responsibility, he claimed.

“We must clean the Augean stables and rid them of the filth and corruption. The anti-corruption [agencies] will be given unfettered space to do their work. The days of the infamous ‘clearing agent’ will be well and truly over,” Adding that “but to guarantee efficiency and professionalism at this effort, institutions of state would be enabled to be autonomous in their work,” Mr. said at the beginning of his campaign in the Volta Region today, Thursday, 2 March 2023.

State-owned businesses will not be a source of income for political appointees, Mr. Mahama said, noting his position as president.

The hallmark of his previous government, tolerance for critique, and the establishment of an environment that allows the media to carry out its duties without being concerned about threats, harassment, or potential murder, were things he promised to bring back.

When his party’s followers demanded that the next NDC administration punish the NPP as well, Mr. Mahama responded, “I daresay, there is no use battling for political power, if all it does is repeat the errors of the NPP administration that have led our dear country to this sorry condition.

Therefore, in order to create the Ghana we envision, we must involve the general public.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com