President John Mahama
In a move that has sparked allegations of political favoritism and “wickedness,” the current administration under President John Mahama is facing intense scrutiny over the disbursement of ex-gratia payments.
Reports indicate that while entitlements for NDC Members of Parliament have been cleared, payments for former President Akufo-Addo and his appointees remain withheld.
This stands in stark contrast to the transition in 2017.
Upon assuming office, then-President Akufo-Addo reportedly ensured the immediate payment of ex-gratia to all government appointees and MPs who served from 2012 to 2016, regardless of their political affiliation.
Clandestine Payments:
Investigations suggest that the government has authorized the Finance Minister to settle the entitlements of NDC MPs who served between 2020 and 2024.
Sources indicate that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Parliamentary Service staff, and high-ranking NDC members—including the then Minority Leader and current Finance Minister, Ato Forson have already received their allocations.
Observers have labeled this a “selective payment enterprise,” accusing the Mahama administration of demonstrating a lack of empathy toward the octogenarian former President and his former staff.
Human Toll:
The delay is reportedly causing severe hardship for former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
For many, these end-of-service benefits were intended to cover critical medical expenses and daily living costs.
Financial Strain:
Many former officials are currently relying on loans from friends and family to survive.
Health Crisis:
In the Ashanti Region, several former appointees are reportedly battling deteriorating health conditions with no financial means to seek adequate treatment.
Administrative Silence:
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, former presidential staffers expressed bewilderment over the delay of their legitimate emoluments.
Institutional Roadblocks:
Inquiries directed at the Controller and Accountant General’s Department suggest that such disbursements are only executed upon strict instructions from the Minister of Finance.
This has led to accusations that the bottleneck is political rather than administrative.
Historical Context:
The current tension mirrors a similar situation in February 2017.
At that time, Inusah Fuseini, then-MP for Tamale Central, led a group of NDC appointees in a public appeal regarding delayed ex-gratia.
In response, President Akufo-Addo promptly ordered the Accountant General to release the funds.
Legal and Administrative Redress:
The affected group of former appointees is now preparing to fight back using all available legal avenues:
CHRAJ Petition:
A formal petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is reportedly ready for filing.
RTI Requests:
A Right to Information (RTI) request has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance seeking transparency on the payment schedule.
Litigation:
Sources close to the group reveal that a lawsuit against the state is imminent if the “discriminatory” withholding of funds persists.
Article By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.
