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| Aide to John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari (Left) & John D. Mahama (Right). |
Former President John Mahama has denied claims made by a leading member of the NPP, Kwame Baffoe (Abronye
DC) that he received ex-gratia of GH¢14 million in 2013. He made this known in
a statement signed by his aide, Joyce Bawa Mogtari and sighted by GhanaNews.hrforum.uk.
According to the statement,
it is a false and scurrilous claim by Abronye concerning the said ex-gratia
payment. The statement also pointed out that, it was unintelligent for Kwame
Baffoe (Abronye) to do that and the general public should ignore his claims.
“The Office of H.E John Dramani Mahama has become aware of another
false and scurrilous claim by a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame
Baffoe, that former President Mahama took home the fattest ex-gratia of GH¢14 million in 2013.
“We urge the public to ignore the unintelligent
rants of the said Kwame Baffoe who has gained notoriety for fabricating and
propagating falsehood on behalf of Nana Akufo-Addo against John Mahama. His
claims are false!
“President Mahama never took any such ex-gratia
payment of GH¢14 million in 2013 or at any other time during his
25 years of distinguished public service. Fortunately, ex-gratia payments are a
matter of public record and are available in the office of the Chief of Staff
or the Controller and Accountant General's Department.”
The
office of the former president via the statement, challenged the chief of staff
and the presidency to provide proof of the payment of any such amount and put
an end to the spread of falsehood.
Again,
the statement mentioned how surprising it would be for such a payment not to
have reflected in the auditor general’s report if indeed such payment was made.
“We challenge the office of the Chief of Staff and
the Presidency to provide proof of the payment of any such amount and stop
using idle miscreants among its ranks to spread falsehood.
“It will be surprising if any such payment had been
made to the former President and has not been reflected in any of the numerous
Auditor General's reports presented to Parliament since 2013.
“We know that it is a stock in trade of President
Akufo-Addo and his cronies to launch a campaign of calumny and false
allegations against the personality of President Mahama anytime they have their
backs against the wall.”
The statement further explained how, the falsehood being perpetuated is an attempt to dissuade discussions about the hardship Ghanaians are going through as a result of the government’s ineptitude; and also, an infantile response to the former president’s promise to review issues relating to emoluments of Article 71 office holders including ex-gratia payments.
Watch: John Mahama's full interview with Alfred Ocansey on 3News Gh.
“As usual, this latest falsehood is a failed decoy to
suppress the national discussions about the hardship Ghanaians are going
through because of the clueless, inept, hopeless incompetence and poor
governance of the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration.
“It is a porous response to John Mahama's promise to
urgently re-look and review issues related to the emoluments of Article 71
office holders including ex-gratia payments.”
The
statement finally reiterated the former president’s commitment to run a leaner
government by the next NDC government; far less ministers ever witnessed in the
history of Ghana. It also made known, the NDC’s commitment to the
implementation of a review of the 1992 constitution in relation to supreme court
justices and issues of Article 71 office holders.
“We want to reiterate the points made by President
Mahama recently that, the next NDC Government will run an administration
with a leaner government and far less ministers than Ghana has ever seen and
ensure a cut in waste and exercise of frugality in everything Government does.
“The NDC is also committed to the implementation of
a review of the 1992 Constitution, which should among others, place a cap on
the number of Supreme Court Justices and face the issues of Article 71 head on.”
A copy of the statement below:
A copy of Kwame Baffoe's (Abronye DC) claim:
Source: ghananews.hrforum.uk
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