President John Dramani Mahama has asked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, to allow him retain the official bungalow he occupied during his tenure, as his retirement home.
A letter signed by former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, dated December 19, 2016, also requested to use a bungalow at Ridge in Accra as the former President’s office.
“Reference our (Osafo-Marfo/Debrah) discussion of 19th December, 2016 on the above stated subject, we wish to indicate that H.E. President John Dramani Mahama would like to have bungalow No. 3, Prestige Link, Cantonments, Accra and its adjoining facilities as his official retirement home.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”6ReyB2oHve6736POYdYcL3OGw7RgV4uM”]“H.E. also wishes to have Bungalow No.6, 3rd Avenue, Ridge, Accra as his office. We count on your usual cooperation in this matter,” the letter added.
Don’t give Mahama bungalow
Mahama’s request comes on the back of recommendations made by the Prof. Dora Francisca Edu- Buandoh committee tasked to review emoluments of Article 71 office holders including the former president’s retirement package.
The committee recommended that, the former president should not be given a fully furnished house in Accra, and another location of his choice outside the capital as has been the norm, but instead Mahama should rather receive “40 percent of [his] salary to be paid monthly.”
This was 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.”
The committee’s report sighted by citifmonline.com, also recommended that John Mahama should retire on a salary of GH¢22,809, up from the non-taxable salary of GH¢15,972 previously approved for presidents.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana