Former President and Aspiring Presidential candidate for the NDC, John Dramani Mahama has indicated that he is committed to lead the charge in ensuring the payment of ex-gratia is totally scrapped.
The former President made this promise on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 when he launched his campaign to lead the NDC as flagbearer ahead of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Mahama said when elected as President of the country, he will initiate the necessary constitutional processes to scrap ex-gratia latest by 2025 and also convince all beneficiaries of the payment to support his course for the benefit of the entire country.
“The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive will be scrapped. The necessary Constitutional steps to take this will start in earnest in 2025. We will also persuade members of the other arms of government to accept its removal,” he said.
Speaking at the launch which took place in the Cedi Auditorium at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, in the Volta Region former President John Dramani Mahama also asserted that he is the best person to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the next general election.
He also promised to restore the trust in state institutions by addressing “issues pertaining to the exercise of powers of the President, proper separation of powers, strengthening of Parliament, restoring the independence of the judiciary, independent and quasi-state institutions and depoliticizing them.”
“These will take the centre stage of the new administration,” he added.
According to the constitution, Article 71 public office holders include members of the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary.
The payment of ex-gratia to especially members of the Executive including the President, Vice President Ministers of State and Parliamentarians including the Speaker of Parliament after every four years has been on the top burner of public discussions over the years with many expressing varied views on whether or not it should be scrapped.
