Special aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, has refuted claims by Ernest Owusu-Bempah that the state has spent Ghc32 million as his emoluments.
She described the claims as an attempt to divert the attention of Ghanaians from the abysmal performance of President Akufo-Addo and the unprecedented corruption of our country, plunging Ghanaians into unprecedented hardship and poverty.
The Deputy Director of Communications for the NPP took a swipe at Mr. Mahama for accepting his emoluments as former president, although he keeps complaining about the economic crisis confronting the country.
He asserted that, although legal, he thinks it is immoral for the former President, John Dramani Mahama, to be receiving his emoluments as former President. Among other allegations, Ernest Owusu-Bempah claimed that Mr. Mahama had been claiming expenses on his current residential property and emolument since 2017 and could have received as much as GH¢18 million from the taxpayer and an additional GH¢14 million ex gratia.
He said the state has, so far, spent ¢18.5 million on former President John Mahama in terms of salary and his end-of-service benefits since he left office in 2017.
“Mahama, apart from the GH¢14 million ex gratia, has, since 2017, received a total of GH¢18.5 million from the state as salary and emoluments combined.
More to the point, Mr Mahama retired on a salary of GH¢22,809, up from the non-taxable salary of GH¢15,972 previously approved for presidents. However, he now receives GH¢ 35,000 monthly due to the recent increase in emoluments as recommended by the Presidential Emoluments Committee on the conditions of service of Article 71 officeholders’ report.
In all, we are talking about some ¢32million state money that the former President has greedily enjoyed,” he alleged.
But reacting to these claims, the special aide to Mr. Mahama described them as false.
In a statement, she noted that the former President has not received the amounts of money quoted in the opinion piece authored by Mr. Owuwu-Bempah.
“As he has repeatedly stated, his only benefit from the State is his constitutionally deserving monthly pension payable to all former presidents, including President John Agyekum Kufour.
Mr. Mahama operates from a private office, paying monthly rent.
It is a fact that the Akufo-Addo government has performed abysmally and is the most corrupt in the history of our country, plunging Ghanaians into unprecedented hardship and poverty. Vice President Bawumia is a puppet being foisted on the nation to avoid the searing heat of accountability and continue the state capture of the last seven and half years.”
Read the full statement below
I have read another unintelligent lie from the Bawumia and Akufo-Addo government routed through a discredited and shallow voice about supposed monies paid to President John Dramani Mahama.
Mr Mahama has not received from the State the amounts indicated in the ridiculously false claims.
As he has repeatedly stated, his only benefit from the State is his constitutionally deserving monthly pension payable to all former presidents, including President John Agyekum Kufour.
Mr. Mahama operates from a private office, paying monthly rent.
It is a fact that the Akufo-Addo government has performed abysmally and is the most corrupt in the history of our country, plunging Ghanaians into unprecedented hardship and poverty. Vice President Bawumia is a puppet being foisted on the nation to avoid the searing heat of accountability and continue the state capture of the last seven and half years.
Mr Mahama remains steadfast in his promise to fight corruption when he is sworn into office. This includes scrapping the payment of ex-gratia and removing other benefits available to members of the executive and officials of state-owned organisations.
This is the kind of leadership that Mahama believes in, a leadership that is committed to fighting corruption and serving the people.
#Mahama2024
#LetsBuildGhanaTogether
#Mahama4Change2024
~ Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Esq
Source: rainbowradioonline.com
