Former Deputy Secretary General of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho says he does not believe in former President John Mahama’s promise to abolish ex-gratia.
He asked Mr. Mahama to answer why he did not implement the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) White Paper on Emoluments when he was President.
Koku Anyidoho said he was ready to debate with Mr Mahama “how he betrayed President Atta-Mills. I don’t trust him and I will never trust him.”
“You think we’re all stupid so you can lie to us by saying you’ll remove the ex-gratia. They say prove you’re sincere, by returning what you enjoy; you respond with mockery by telling us we’re “stupid”. Yooo we hear you sir dead sheep,” he tweeted.
“I do not believe John Mahama that he will abolish ex-gratia. Why did he not implement the White Paper of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) on, Emoluments? I am ready to debate John Dramani Mahama on how he betrayed President Atta-Mills. I do not believe and will not will trust him.
“As the Founder and CEO of the Atta-Mills Institute, I have always said that we must implement the White Paper of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) established by President Atta-Mills. Isn’t it a shame that, some people ignore the White Paper, and now insult? I do not hate anyone: I speak about problems as boldly as my conscience.
“What did he do with the White Paper on the Constitution Review Commission established by President Atta-Mills, after he became President? He had more than 4 years to make changes & no! Now he wants only 4 years to do what?” He emphasized.
But Mr. Mahama has described comments by private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu to return all ex gratia paid to him before his promise to withdraw, as ridiculous.
Addressing NDC supporters in the Volta region on Saturday, March 4, Mr. Mahama said, “I said categorically that when we come into office, we will cancel ex gratia for the executive because the president is responsible for the executive, so he can cancel it. it is for the executive but then you have to persuade the other hand of the government to see that there is no justice in continuing to pay yourself ex gratia when ordinary workers do not receive it because you are the leader, you have to show by example. If the economy is in crisis, why should we continue to take ex gratia when others of public and civil service do not take? So, I said categorically that we will cancel the exgratia.
“Then someone who knows better, a lawyer, said, so I have to return all the ex gratia that we have taken before to show Ghanaians that yes, we are serious about canceling, they don’t even understand the principle in our constitution. They say you can’t pass retroactive legislation if you pass the legislature today, it doesn’t affect what happened in the past, what you said is a bit ridiculous because it’s like saying because we have introduced free SHS, we all have to find it. refund the school fees we have paid. That’s what strangers say .”
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Mr Martin Kpebu said it made sense to ask Mr Mahama to return the ex gratia he received after indicating that he would cancel the payment if he wins the next presidential election.
As a sign of commitment, Mr. Kepbu said, Mr. Mahama must return all payments made to him.
Speak in TV3 On Saturday, March 4, Mr. Kpebu said “Mahama earned money when he was president, so he should look at himself and say ‘I will return it’. He should return it because, in this national election, he will do, hundreds of millions of dollars, from where does it come from? They made money so that the exgratia is small. So he just has to tell them, ‘I am old, I think I have become wiser, I will return the money,’ the exgratia must be returned.
“You know Dan Kwaku Yeboah of Peace FM, I think he is the main campaigner for Mr. Mahama to return the ex gratia. When I saw it I said it makes sense. Mr. Mahama should introspect and return it as a sign of good faith, if I have returned the money that’s what I’m committed to. Number two, the amendment that needs to be written.
Mr. Mahama promised to abolish ex gratia when he gets the nod to lead the country again.
“Ex gratia payments to executive members will be cancelled,” Mr Dramani Mahama announced as he launched his bid to become the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 Presidential Candidate.
“The constitutional steps necessary to take this will begin in earnest in 2025. We will also persuade members from other hands of the government to remove it,” he said.
You think we are all stupid so you can lie to us by saying you will scrap ex-gratia. It is said to prove that you are sincere, by giving back what you enjoy; you responded mockingly by telling us we were “stupid”. I heard the sheep died 🐐
— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) March 6, 2023
Source: 3news.com
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