Director of Communication for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagba has disclosed that the government is working to provide office space to former President John Mahama as part of the entitlement due him
This is a sharp U-turn to the earlier position taken by the government and some elements of the NPP.
Former President Mahama, in an exclusive interview with TV3, disclosed that the ruling Government has refused to honor some of the perks he is entitled to as a former Head of State of Ghana of the Republic of Ghana.
He said entitlements such as an office space, payment of his domestic staff, and utility bills among others have not been provided to him as the constitution dictates by the ruling government.
The former President says he pays for all those from his own pocket, adding that he has received no ex-gratia from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government since leaving office in 2016.
“I pay the electricity bill for my house and my office, and I pay the water bills for my house and my office. I live in my own accommodation so the state does not pay me anything for accommodation. They haven’t given me an office so I rent an office at East Cantonment and I pay the rent myself.
“I pay my own fuel, the state doesn’t give me fuel, I pay my own domestic staff, I pay my own medical bills, I pay my own air tickets when I travel,” he said.
When the former President made these claims, government spokespersons went to town with official documents purportedly showing that the State has been paying for all the expenses Mr. Mahama spoke of.
Mr Ahiagba also organized a press conference on September 15 to dismiss the former President’s claims.
However, speaking in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Mr. Ahiagba now admits the government has not honored all the entitlement due the Mr. Mahama, as former Head of State as dictated by Article 71 of the 1992 Ghanaian constitution.
He adds that plans are far advanced to provide an office and also pay the bills that the former President complained about in his recent interview.
“The government of Ghana is working to give him an office. There is a conversation to get him an office
“If the office has not been given to him, the letter I have here has not confirmed it but what it tells me is that there is a conversation to give him an office and his office is aware”, he disclosed.
