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Former President John Mahama has rejected an office space that was to be provided to him by the new government.

Mahama, who has also withdran an earlier request to keep his current place of residence as his retirement home said the decision was to avoid hurting the great relationship between himself and the current President, Nana Akufo-Addo.

In a letter addressed to the new President on Wednesday [January 11], John Mahama said he had never requested to purchase the property contrary to speculations in some sections of the media.

The Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh committee on Emoluments and Conditions of Service for Article 71 office holders in its report on the recommendation of benefits for Presidents leaving office named among other things an office space equipped with modern gadgets to be given to the retiring presidents but President John Mahama even before being presented with he property has rejected it.

“I do recognize 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, 4th January, 2017 at its Twenty-Second Sitting of the Third Meeting of the Fourth Session.

You will recall, Mr. President, that contrary to the erroneous impression created by some persons in Government and the interpretation given to the formal letter submitted on my behalf by Julius Debrah, this follow-up to an agreement we had on my choice of accommodation and office. I had never requested to purchase the property,” Mahama said.

‘Mahama withdraws request for state bungalow’

Mahama, through a letter signed by the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, dated 19th December 2016, informed the new government that Mahama wanted to keep the Presidential residence as his retirement home, and made a request for some adjoining properties to be given to him as his office.

President Mahama’s request to keep the bungalow, contrary to the approved recommendations set by the Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh committee on Emoluments and Conditions of Service for Article 71 office holders, has created a public uproar, with many Ghanaians accusing the President of blatantly trying to acquire more than what has been approved for him by the state.

‘Residence approved as my retirement package’

The President in a subsequent statement, said his decision to maintain the state residence he occupied while in office, was approved by the new government led by Nana Akufo-Addo as well as Parliament.

‘We’ve not approved Mahama’s request’

But President Nana Akufo-Addo’s side of the transition team in a rebuttal, said the government is yet to approve former President Mahama’s request to keep his the property, contrary to Mr. Mahama’s statement.