A former executive of the Tema East Constituency branch of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed former President John Dramani Mahama’s promise to abolish the payment of ex-gratia, if he is elected president again, as the empty promise of a man who is in self-deceit.

According to Stephen Ashitey Adjei, alias Moshake, the promise is a ploy by the former president to win votes during the 2024 elections but it will just not wash.

“Mr. Mahama is just deceiving himself in his attempt to deceive Ghanaians and in the end he will laugh at the wrong side of his own mouth,” Moshake wrote in a social media post.

He reveals that he has been listening to many Ghanaians and the overwhelming sentiment is that Mr. Mahama’s promise is hypocritical.

“Since his days as MP, through to his days as deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President and President, the same John Mahama enjoyed the same ex-gratia that he now says he will abolish, the simple question is why now?” Moshake asked.

He answers his own rhetorical question; “because he wants to deceive his way back to power.”

The former party executive urged Mr. Mahama to recant that promise saying that it is making him look like a con artist in the estimation of most voters.

“Otherwise then let Mr. Mahama vomit back all the ex-gratia that he has been taking since his days as MP for Bole Bamboi; let him vomit all of it back to the state then we can take him serious when he says he will abolish ex-gratia,” he wrote.

It would be recalled that former President John Dramani Mahama promised to abolish the payment of ex-gratia on March 2, 2024.

He made the promises when he was launching his campaign to be elected flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive will be scrapped. The necessary Constitutional steps to take will start in earnest in 2025,” he had said.

But reacting, Moshake pointed out that the promise is too wacky.
“I actually remember that in 2015, Mr. Mahama had made the same promise while he was president. He never scrapped ex-gratia before he was voted out of power in 2016.

“If as president, you could not fulfil this promise, is it now that you are in opposition that we should trust that if you come back you can fulfil this promise? Dead goat paaa!!, Adults are told the truth, it is children who are told stories.” Moshake stated.