Peacefmonline.com can authoritatively confirm that former President John Mahama has written to President Nana Akufo-Addo withdrawing his earlier request to keep his current residence located at No.3 Prestige Link, Cantonments, Accra as part of his retirement package.
The former president personally wrote to the current President, Nana Akufo-Addo rescinding his initially expressed interest.
The letter, which has been sighted by Peacefmonline, is also copied the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Letter
Portions of the letter headlined "Official Residence And Office" indicated that the request is being withdrawn because it threatens the relationships between the current administration and the former government.
“It would appear that these requests threaten to mar the spirit of cooperation with which we as co-chairs of the joint transition team have managed the smooth transfer of power from my administration to yours. I believe that this controversy is absolutely not needed in these early days as the government settles into office," Mr Mahama wrote.
"I do recognise that these are facilities that are conventionally extended to presidents that leave office and I am also mindful of the approval by the Parliament of the republic of Ghana on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at its 22nd sitting of the third meeting of the 4th session.
In the letter, the former president also accused some persons in government of creating the false impression that he requested to purchase the property.
“You would recall, Mr President that contrary to the erroneous impression created by some persons in government and the interpretation given to the former letter submitted on my behalf by Mr Julius Debrah, this was a follow-up to an agreement we had on my choice of accommodation and office. I had never requested to purchase the property; my request is, therefore, humbly withdrawn,” Mr Mahama added.
There has been a massive hue and cry over the decision by former President Mahama to appropriate the official residence as part of his end-of-service package.
Mr Mahama’s critics say his earlier quest to keep the property was unlawful.
The residence, bungalow No.3, situated at Prestige Link, Cantonments in Accra, has been designated as official accommodation for the country’s Vice-Presidents but was still inhabited by the former President becoming President of Ghana.
The residence has been the official house for sitting vice presidents.
Mr Mahama was supposed to vacate the property a day before the investiture of President Nana Akufo-Addo, per Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
A Presidential Emoluments committee Mahama formed before handing over, had recommended that the exiting president be paid 40% of his salary as rent allowance. But after Parliament accepted this recommendation, President John Mahama caused fresh changes in the recommendation which was later brought back to parliament.
Though the Akufo-Addo government has agreed to provide the ex-president a residential facility, it says it has not acceded to the request sent by the Former Chief of Staff of the Former President, Julius Debrah for Former President Mahama to keep his residence as President.
Leader of the new government’s side of the transition team, Yaw Osafo Marfo told journalists: "We have not approved of his request, and I want to repeat we have received the request and the requests are two – for him to be given his ex-gratia where he lives and also be given another property as his office".
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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This request by Mahama was needless in the first place. He has received ex-gratia as an MP for 12 years, and also as vice-president. Now as an ex-president he will be receiving another ex-gratia. Why would he want to be given that particular building, if not for GREED. This guy is a ***barred word*** greedy bastard. He should know that he will leave all these yhings behind one day.
Nana and NPP leadership should thank their stars cos if they had granted this shameful request, it would have been doom for them. Ghanaians are now more wiser than ever.Ace Ankomah and others, God richly bless you and never relent. As for Adu -Asare and Anita Desosso and i just dont have the right words to describe their shame
Excellent drawback. You are to wait to be given or asked where you like not to dictate to Ghanaians what you want. After all it is a privilege not obligatory. You are one of the President who did not struggle to become one. You were picked by Ex-President Mills to be his running mate and unfortunately he died for you to take over. You did not go for 2 or 3 times as others did. So Please count yourself lucky if you have been a President for this country.
Please it is NOT Nana or our reps in parliament who dont want you to stay in the residence. THE TRUTH IS THAT WE GHANAIANS, I MEAN WE ORDINARY GHANAIANS USED EVERY MEDIA WE COULD TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT STAY IN THAT PROPERTY. Hahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa...............
It's rather the public that has rejected Ex-president mahama's request.
What is the meaning of 'This Controversy Is Needless' in the headline? Would he have withdrawn if the controversy was not occasioned?
I want to ask what is the role Asantehene expected to play in this matter? Why copy the letter to him? It is probable that Prez Mahama sought the influence of Asantehene to secure the residence. From grapevine sources, the same Asantehene was used by Prez Mahama to influence the Supreme Court justices to rule in favor of NDC in the 2013 election petition. My humble prayer is that Asantehene will remember his status and recognize that he is not above the laws of the land and thus will act as a king without involving himself in constitutional issues. At least he is not allowed to vote twice in the elections!!!
THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AND NOT AN ORDINARY PROPERTY. YOU CANNOT GIVE OUT THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AS RETIREMENT PACKAGE FOR AN OUTGOING PRESIDENT. LET'S CALL A SPADE A SPADE. JOHN MAHAMA IS THE FOURTH PERSON TO LIVE IN THAT PROPERTY AS VICE PRESIDENT. THE FIRST WAS KOW ARKAAH, FOLLOWED BY PROF ATTAH MILLS AND ALIU MAHAMA.
Since when has it become acceptable to involve the Asantehene in matters of state. Hell would have broken loose in this country if an NPP president (Kuffour or Nana) had done this. NDC hypocrisy.
Don't underrate NDC in opposition else you are doomed. Mahama teach them you are still a leveled man