TO ABOLISH EX-GRATIA REQUIRES NATIONALISTIC PATRIOTISM AND NOT INDIVIDUALISTIC OPPORTUNISM.

TO ABOLISH EX-GRATIA REQUIRES NATIONALISTIC PATRIOTISM AND NOT INDIVIDUALISTIC OPPORTUNISM.

As a trickster so desperate for power, he is bound to engage in utter public deception by courting hatred for the sitting-government. And the easiest way to succeed in such treacherous trickery is by stirring people’s already fractious emotions with issues of equally emotive value.

Due to obvious salary disparities coupled with prevailing harsh economic environment, it is obvious Ghanaians are extremely unhappy and absolutely nobody can begrudge them. As a people, it is our right to demand quality of life from our political leadership.

This political leadership is not just those already in power but also those desperately seekingfor it. So, as we criticise those in power, we must also scrutinise those seeking for same. We must not allow ourselves to be hoodwinked by sugar-coated words of unrepentant tricksters.

50% hike

Even while standing trial in the 2012 election petition, John Dramani Mahama increased his salary and that of his appointees by 50%, backdated to 2009 and paid all at a go.

At the time, a minister of State under Kufuor was taking a monthly salary of Ghc2000 and that was raised to Ghc3000, with Ghc4000 of Kufuor raised to a whooping Ghc6000!!

Backdated 3years, his ministers took a whooping (Ghc3000×12×3)= Ghc108,000 while he took (Ghc6000×12×3)=Ghc216,000 at a time his legitimacy hadn’t even been affirmed.

Intolerance

And I hear he is heaping insults on patriotic Ghanaians exposing his abject hypocrisy and palpable falsity over his pronouncements on ex-gratia. He’s rabidly intolerant to criticisms.

Following his ill-fated illusionist promise to abolish ex-gratia, I’ve taken it upon myself to explain why the man cannot be taken seriously but some people think I’m being mischievous.

Public emotions

Now, per our statutes, there is nothing called ex-gratia; it’s a coinage by politicians to demonize ruling government, when they’re in opposition, to incite negative public emotions.

When public office-holders under article 71 are appointed, they’re given certain entitlements which is properly called conditions of service. It is law and entrenched in our constitution.

It is not cash which is, arbitrarily, taken from the consolidated fund and dished-out, illegally, to people on expiration of their term of office. Anybody who has been President knows this.

So, when you’ve benefitted as MP, deputy minister, minister, Veep, President and continue enjoying as ex-President, you don’t behave as if the package is demonic, if you’re sincere.

Apology

Your posture should be: I have, and continue benefiting from ex-gratia but from today, I forfeit this package, profusely apologise and promise to abolish it if I’m given the mandate.

But when your very existence as ex-President is inextricably linked to proceeds of ex-gratia and even weep bitterly when payment delays, then who are you to promise to abolish same?

Entrenched clause

In anycase, the legal processes required to remove an entrenched clause in the constitution will take not less than 2years so he is going to spend half of his tenure on it?

Indeed, if, as a people, have come to a point where we all are in agreement to abolish article 71, the approach must be unequivocally nationalistic and not opportunistic bigotry.

This strategy of playing on keyboard of people’s emotions to hoodwink unsuspecting Ghanaians into thinking that we’re saints and others are demons, is archaic and crude.

Chamber pot

For me, until John Mahama, openly and apologetically, proclaime to Ghanaians that he has ceased taking his benefits as ex-President due to Ghana’s economic difficulties, any promise he makes I’m respect of abolishing same, if voted for in 2024, must be treated as a fermented putrid urine packaged in a new chamber pot.

Indeed, if his sole reason to abolish ex-gratia is because of our prevailing economic difficulties, then, do we take it that it will be good to have it restored, when things get better in times ahead?

As far back as 2015, he promised to abolish ex-gratia. But he continued to enjoy it to the fullest, and actually set his presidential emuloments committee which gave him a much juicier package of ex-gratia, after he had lost the 2016 elections!!!

Motivation

Obviously, John Mahama is desperate for power, not to come and render service to the good people of this country; his desperation purely motivated by intention to service debts he has incurred in two previous ill-fated attempts to stage a comeback.

If given power, all he will do is blame his well-established incompetence on the immediate-predecessor, while he and his cohorts replenish their critically depleted bank accounts and pile-on ill-wealth.

Tricksters

As Ghanaians, we must never allow any group of tricksters to gain political power by riding on the crest of our very genuine discontent, only for the purpose of enhancing their personal fortunes, friends and other associates.

Justice A. Newton-Offei
justnoff@yahoo.com