As Ghana transitions from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, some leading members of the NDC are reminding Ghanaians that former President John Dramani Mahama was not provided with his full entitlements during his time as a former president.

An interview with the now president-elect, John Dramani Mahama, in which he complained about the failure of the government to provide him with office space, a residence, and the payment of his bills, has resurfaced, particularly on social media.

It is unclear why the discussion about the emoluments deserved by former presidents has resurfaced at this particular time.

Deputy Campaign Spokesperson for the John Dramani Mahama campaign, Beatrice Annan, has repeatedly reminded her followers that despite being entitled to certain payments and other emoluments, the government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo failed to fulfill these obligations to Mahama.

In a social media post, she wrote:
“For 8 years, the NPP treated Mahama unfairly. Today, they say it is regrettable. President John Mahama survived it and won an election with the biggest gap.”

This sentiment was echoed by campaign spokesperson and aide Joyce Bawa Mogtari, who stated:

“This brings back so many memories of another era! The only thing that makes me happy is the fact that HE John Mahama won by a landslide. 57.7% in one election is indeed a gargantuan victory. However, Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia refused to let him remain in that small Cantonments house. After eight years in office, they have still not provided HE, the President-elect, with an official house or office accommodation. The office we are currently operating from is rented, and he lives in his own house. Yayra Koku, we have suffered oh, but today, God has been good to JM!”

Adding further, she noted:

“I am surprised that people are shocked that the NPP government refused HE President Mahama a simple four-bedroom house. We spoke about this many times and received plenty of insults in response.”

Several other leading members of the incoming government have expressed similar views, suggesting that the president-elect should consider a "tit for tat" approach by paying back Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the perceived ill-treatment Mahama endured as a former president.

Meanwhile, John Dramani Mahama, during his 2024 election campaign, pledged to scrap ex-gratia payments for Article 71 officeholders.

He has reiterated his intention to follow through with this promise by amending the constitution to facilitate the process.

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