Former President John Dramani Mahama has described as mischievous claims that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is stranded and has no where to stay because, he [Mahama] has refused to vacate the designated accommodation for Vice Presidents.
Mr. John Mahama, who handed over power to the Nana Akufo-Addo government last Saturday, said the Transition Team as well as Parliament, had agreed that he maintains the building, contrary to recommendations made by a committee tasked to review emoluments of Article 71 office holders and his retirement package.
Per the recommendations, Parliament only approved for John Mahama money for his accommodation.
Therefore request for the house, which was approved through the use of administrative processes, thus appears to be against the Presidential Transition Act Section 10, making his continuous occupation of the house a breach.
“The claims that Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia is stranded and has nowhere to stay, is mischievous and deliberately intended to embarrass President Mahama.
The Vice President is expected to take up residence in the House known as Australia House, which was previously occupied by former Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur,” Mahama said in a statement.
According to him “an Official and Permanent residence for the Vice President is currently under construction, off the Switchback road. Dr. Bawumia will move into the new structure when completed.”
The former president still occupied his vice presidential residence despite being president during his tenure of office. Meanwhile, the Prof. Dora Francisca Edu- Buandoh committee recommended that Mahama instead of going home with a fully furnished house in Accra and another location of his choice, Mahama should rather have “40 percent of [his] salary to be paid monthly.”
This was a deviation from the Chinery-Hesse Committee Report (2001-2005) which said, former Presidents should receive “one fully furnished residence in the national capital and one out-of-capital residence at a location of the former President’s choice; all of which should not revert to the state in the event of the demise of the former President.”
The Prof. Dora Francisca Edu- Buandoh committee’s report sighted by citifmonline.com also recommended that John Mahama should retire on a salary of GH¢22,809, up from the non-taxable salary of GH¢15,972 previously approved for presidents.
Below is the full statement from office of John Mahama:
Ignore claims about President Mahama’s residence
Contrary to the claims being made that HE John Dramani Mahama, former President of the Republic of Ghana, has refused to vacate his residence, we wish to state and confirm that per the information officially communicated to the newly inaugurated administration following discussions by the Joint Transition Team, President Mahama will continue to maintain his current place of residence as his retirement home.
The decision and agreement on the place of residence and office for the former President was formally communicated to the new administration by the former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah on December 19, 2016.
The Sixth Parliament of the 4th Republic before its dissolution, also resolved that residential and office accommodation should be provided to the outgoing President, HE John Dramani Mahama in line with convention and existing precedent.
The claims that Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia is stranded and has nowhere to stay, is mischievous and deliberately intended to embarrass President Mahama.
The Vice President is expected to take up residence in the House known as Australia House, which was previously occupied by former Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur.
An Official and Permanent residence for the Vice President is currently under construction, off the Switchback road.
Dr. Bawumia will move into the new structure when completed. Office of HE John Dramani Mahama Former President of the Republic of Ghana Accra- Ghana. January 09, 2017.
Source: Citi fm
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I don't even understand these NDC. ahh, are they the onces to tell the Akufu Addo's government where the vice president should stay... Former Mr. President vacate the house and give it to the new vice president.... ONAPO
Opana John Ford just move out peacefully. You can go and perch in the house you dashed to Akua Donkor. Why do you like embarrassing yourself through unnecessary controversy like that? You are very greeeedy paaaaaa..... Just move out.. there will be no other outcome in this matter.
If he is told to move out not you or your cronies can keep him there. Ghana has police and an army. You NDC people think because you worship JDM all must do so. If it is not approved for him to stay there you can do nothing.
It is expected that Bawumia takes up residence at Australia House..... Who is expecting Bawumia to do that. Why should he when the state has a designated house for the Vice President to live in. Can you imagine David Cameron asking for No. 10 Downing Street as his retirement benefit. Or Obama asking for the White House. Mahama save yourself the shame and move out. You lost an election fair and square. Don't think because President Nana Addo has commended you for being a stateman you should now ask for the moon. Please move out ASAP.
JM DONT BORDER URSELF TALKING LET THEM USE FORCE AND WE SHALL SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. IS THAT HOUSE THE ONLY PLACE BAWUMIA CAN STAY.CHEEEEW
When will the new structure be completed? Bawumia is stranded as we speak now. Tell Opana Ford to move out immediately.
We would wake-up to a day when an outgoing prez would request the jubilee house as an official retirement home and that new one would be built for the incoming one. Hmmm asem seb3