President-elect John Dramani Mahama has addressed recent discussions concerning ex-gratia payments, clarifying that he has not received any such benefits from the state.
Speaking in a recent interview, John Mahama emphasized that the only payment he received was GH¢200,000 plus in salary arrears in 2013.
“The state hasn’t given me any money for anything. I pay all my bills. I fuel my car, I pay my domestic staff, I pay for my medical bills. Whenever I travel with my wife, I pay for my own plane tickets. I haven’t received any ex-gratia from the government.” He disclosed.
This clarification comes amid ongoing debates about the remuneration of Article 71 officeholders, which include the President, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, and other high-ranking officials.
Mahama has previously expressed his intention to abolish ex-gratia payments for members of the executive branch if re-elected.
In March 2023, he stated, “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.”
See a snippet of the interview below;
Source:Ghanacelebrities.com