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NDC Member of Parliament for Bongo, Edward Bawa says the government's refusal to allow former President John Dramani Mahama to stay in his Cantonment official residence after leaving office is an act of betrayal.

Hon. Bawa explained on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' that the former President's request to keep his current residence and use Bungalow at Ridge in Accra as his office was predicated on an agreement between him and President Nana Akufo-Addo.

According to him, some behind-the-scene meetings were held on the issue with the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah sending a letter to the government for a conclusion to be made.

The NDC MP for Bongo wondered why the issue was blown out of proportion and made to appear that the government had no prior knowledge about the former President's request.

He described the government's refusal that has led to former President John Mahama withdrawing his request as a "betrayal of agreement".

He however commended the former President for his subsequent decision not to keep his official residence.

On Tuesday, January 10 the former President John Mahama wrote to President Nana Akufo-Addo withdrawing his request.

He cited in the letter headlined "Official Residence and Office" that the request has been withdrawn because it threatens the relationship between the current administration and the former government.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.

"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, January 4, 2017, at its 22nd sitting of the third meeting of the 4th session."

“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 I had never requested to purchase the property; my request is, therefore, humbly withdrawn,” Mr.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 wrote.

On his part, former NPP MP for Ahafo Ano South, Stephen Balado Manu commended the former President for withdrawing his earlier request stating that he would have set a bad precedent in the country should he have kept insisting to retain his official residence after leaving the seat of government.

He noted that it would have created a new trend asking what the nation would become if President Nana Akufo-Addo also requests to keep the Flagstaff House after leaving office.