John Mahama’s Top 9 questions on the Financing of Political Parties in Ghana

-

March 24, 2023

John Mahama's Top 9 questions on the Financing of Political Parties in Ghana

Table of Contents

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 24 |John Mahama launches Fundraising Platform for 2024

Former President John Mahama has outlined 9 questions regarding financing political parties in Ghana.

The former president was speaking as part of his keynote address during a Public lecture on political financing in Ghana and the launch of the JM 2024 Fundraising platform held at the University for Professional Studies, Accra main Auditorium on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Relevance of Political Financing

John Mahama indicated, that as a critical participator in Ghana’s political space since 1996, he can attest to the relevance of ethical campaign financing in Ghana.

He added, that Whereas some political actors have advocated state sponsorship for political
parties, the truth is, Ghana is today, broke.

”Ghana is struggling to secure an IMF programme lest the economy collapses totally by end of March 2023, according to the Minister for Finance. This being the case, Ghana cannot, at the moment, absorb additional expenditure streams.” He said.

”Truth be told, the state already supports political parties in many ways – many political parties have on many occasions had their filing fees returned to them after elections because they attained the minimum threshold of votes. This means the state finances filing fees.” He indicated.

Government Support

The former p[rsidnet said, Also, in the past, Government has through the Electoral Commission procured and distributed vehicles to political parties in proportion to the share of votes in the immediate past election.

”With the possibility of further state financing shut – at least for now – I aim to re-open the conversation on political party financing in Ghana, with emphasis on needed reforms and regulations to promote transparent and broad-based financing options for parties.” He said.

Financing of Political Parties in Ghana

John Mahama indicated, that specifically, he wants the national discourse to focus on the following key questions, among others:

How are our political campaigns being financed in Ghana?
How efficient is the EC’s regulatory oversight?
Are our political parties playing their role as vehicles for national development?
On the issue of government funding of political parties, is this feasible?
Should the EC’s regulatory responsibility for political financing be re-assigned to a separate Statutory body?
Are citizens in favour of such government funding for political parties?
Should the Political Parties Act, 200 (Act 574) be reviewed? If so, in what ways?
How can political parties promote transparent and broad-based financing of their
activities?
How can recent technological advancements assist in this regard?

Political Party Elections

John Mahama however indicated that Ghana has had eight (8) presidential and parliamentary elections since 1992. Three of these elections have led to the peaceful handover of power from the incumbent party to the opposition namely, 2000, 2008 and 2016 elections.

”On the structure of our parties, the NDC and NPP, have maintained quite a good network across the country and this has helped to generate strong interest in party politics among Ghanaians.” He said.

As a result, there has been an average high voter turnout in our presidential and parliamentary elections. For example, the turnout for 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 were 85%, 73%, 80%,69%, and 79% respectively.

”By peer standards, these are relatively high, and on that score, Ghana’s democratic credentials have been touted as among the best in the sub-region. However, this assessment ignores other aspects of our democracy that have not progressed and are, in fact, impacting negatively on the progress made so far. This is to do with the level of transparency and depth of regulatory oversight on how campaigns are financed in Ghana.” He added.

RECOMMENDED:

Usual Financing of Political Parties

Usually, the normal practice has been that a political party would derive its resources from the regular dues paid by its members; donations by individuals; or special fundraising by the party for specific purposes.

CDD Ghana’s Research on Political Financing

According to the Ghana Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), in recent times, some financing of political campaigns was coming from illegal activities such as illegal miners, oil bunkering businessmen, fraudulent businesses, and procurement dealings in the award of contracts, among others.

‘Their study even reported that there appeared to be a strong association between the financing of political campaigns and organized crime in Ghana. This is worrying! Worrying because it has the potential of mortgaging our governance system to criminals. If that happens, our democracy would be gradually turned into a plutocracy – a country ruled indirectly by a few wealthy individuals.” He indicated.

Click for the full speech of Mr Mahama. HERE

John Mahama launches Fundraising Platform for 2024

What is your position on ex-gratia? – John Mahama to NPP — Former President John Mahama

Ghana’s Most Authentic Political News Platform

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be Reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the Content.© 2020 Ellis Multimedia: PoliticsGhana.com: All Rights Reserved.♥

John Mahama launches Fundraising Platform for 2024

By

-

March 24, 2023

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 24 |John Mahama launches Fundraising Platform for 2024

Aspiring National Democratic Congress(NDC) Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, has launched a digital fundraising platform to finance his 2024 campaign.

Speaking at a public lecture on Financing Political Campaigns in Ghana We Want, President Mahama launched his digitalized retail donation campaign “to mobilize small contributions from Ghanaians, both locally and in the diaspora.”

RECOMMENDED:

The platform, the former President noted, is transparent and has a dashboard screen that will show all inflows in real-time.

Click for the full speech of Mr Mahama. HERE

Ghana’s Most Authentic Political News Platform

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be Reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the Content.© 2020 Ellis Multimedia: PoliticsGhana.com: All Rights Reserved.♥

It’ll be difficult for China to cancel Ghana’s debt – Isaac Adongo

By

-

March 18, 2023

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 18 |It’ll be difficult for China to cancel Ghana’s debt – Isaac Adongo

Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo has intimated that it will be difficult for Ghana to secure any form of debt forgiveness from China due to the current economic and geopolitical position of the Asian giant.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on the difficulties facing Ghana’s plea to China for softer conditions to repay debts owed to China, Mr. Adongo said the political and economic ideology of China is not in sync with the conditions of the Paris Club which poses a greater risk for any debt relief.

“We need our friendly nations and the bilateral countries to come together and form a committee, but it has been difficult to get China to come to the table even though China is our biggest bilateral lender. The complexity of the China situation is that there are some bits of geopolitics involved where China does not see the Paris Club as anything other than a Western influence and would always want to have equal arrangements with individual countries.”

Mr. Adongo also stressed that the timing of Ghana’s engagement with China is not encouraging as there are other African countries seeking the same help from the Asian powerhouse.

RECOMMENDED:

“Unfortunately for us, we have arrived in China at a time when other African countries are already queueing to borrow from them and so it will be difficult for Ghana to jump that queue because whatever China agrees with Ghana will have to be fair with the other countries we came to meet. And also, traditionally, China does not believe that a sovereign country can be poor but does believe that a country can be broke like we are broke but have asserts and other means through which they can collect their money and so China is not a believer of forgiving debts.”

The Bolgatanga Central lawmaker further bemoaned Ghana’s insignificant progress in achieving debt sustainability though the government had decided to conduct its infamous domestic debt exchange programme in hope of reducing the nation’s debt stock.

Ghana’s Most Authentic Political News Platform

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be Reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the Content.© 2020 Ellis Multimedia: PoliticsGhana.com: All Rights Reserved.♥

Important and Documented History of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

By

-

March 18, 2023

2

History of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

Table of Contents

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 18 |Important and Documented History of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a social democratic political party in Ghana, founded by Jerry Rawlings, who was Head of State of Ghana from 1981 to 1993 and the President of Ghana from 1993 to 2001.

Following the formation of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), which ruled Ghana following the military coup d’état on 31 December 1981, there was pressure from the international community to restore democracy.

The NDC was formed as the ruling party ahead of elections in 1992, in which Rawlings was elected president, and in 1996 Rawlings was re-elected as the NDC candidate. Rawlings’ second term ended in 2001.

The NDC lost the presidency in the 2000 election, and it was not until the 2008 election, that they regained it with John Atta Mills as its candidate. They established the 1992 constitution of Ghana

The NDC party symbol is an umbrella with the head of a dove at the tip. The party colors are red, white, green, and black, and the party slogan or motto is “Unity, stability, and development.” Internationally, the NDC is a member of the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International.

On 9 December 2012, the Electoral Commission of Ghana declared NDC candidate John Dramani Mahama to be president-elect after a hotly contested race in which he won 50.7% of votes cast.

History

The National Democratic Congress was founded by Jerry Rawlings, who had been the military leader of Ghana since 1981. In 1992, the National Democratic Congress led the successful transition to multi-party competition, an example of authoritarian led democratization. The NDC won the 1992 and 1996 elections.

2000 elections

The 2000 election was the first presidential election since 1992 that an incumbent president was not on the ballot. Jerry Rawlings’ eight-year tenure had expired as per the Constitution of Ghana.

John Atta Mills became the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress at a special delegate congress held in Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana. He was popularly acclaimed the presidential candidate of the party for the 2000 presidential election. Vice-president John Atta Mills lost in 2000 to New Patriotic Party’s John Kufour after two rounds of voting.

2004 elections

In the 2004 elections the party’s manifesto called for “A Better Ghana”.^[6] John Atta Mills ran again for the NDC in the 2004 presidential elections with his running mate Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni.^[7]^[8] He won 44.6% of the vote, but lost to the New Patriotic Party. In the general elections held on 7 December 2004, the party won only 94 of the 230 seats.

2008 elections

On 21 December 2006, Mills was overwhelmingly elected by the NDC as its candidate for the 2008 presidential election with a majority of 81.4%, or 1,362 votes. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah was second with 8.7% (146 votes), Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu was third with 8.2% (137 votes), and Eddie Annan was fourth with 1.7% (28 votes).

In April 2008, John Mahama was chosen as the party’s vice-presidential candidate. On 3 January 2009, Mills was certified as the victor of the 28 December 2008 run-off election and became the next president of Ghana.

RECOMMENDED:

2012 transfer of power and elections

President John Atta Mills died, after a short illness, in the afternoon of 24 July 2012 while still in office. Vice President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC was sworn in as president that evening.

The NDC picked John Dramani Mahama for their presidential candidate and sitting vice president Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as their vice-presidential candidate for the 2012 elections.

2016 primaries

In November 2015 after securing an overwhelming 1,199 118 out of a total of 1, 286, 728 votes representing 95.10% party members in the presidential primaries, President John Dramani Mahama was endorsed to lead the NDC in the 2016 general elections.^[13]

2020 elections

Ahead of the 2020 elections, In February 2019, John Dramani Mahama was confirmed as the candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress to contest in the 2020 elections, the incumbent president Nana Akufo-Addo who unseated Mahama in a 2016 election, capitalizing on an economy that was slowing due to falling prices for gold, oil and cocoa exports.

He won the National Democratic Congress primaries by securing an overwhelming 213,487 votes representing 95.23 percent of the total valid votes cast with the other six contenders managing with about 4 percent of the votes.

On 25 June 2020 the NDC led by its General Secretary Asiedu Nketiah,^[18] lost a case in the Supreme Court of Ghana in which the party had sought to achieve the inclusion of old Voter ID cards in the Electoral Commission‘s compilation of a New Voter’s Register, among other reliefs.

In the 2020 elections, 18 members of the party who sought to run as independent candidates lost their membership. All who endorsed the forms of the candidates and participated in their campaigns were also expelled.^[20]

Electoral history of the NDC

Presidential elections

Election	Candidate	Votes	%	Votes	%	Result
Election	Candidate	First Round		Second Round		Result
1992	Jerry Rawlings	2,327,600	58.4%	–	–	Won
1996	Jerry Rawlings	4,099,758	57.4%	–	–	Won
2000	John Atta Mills	2,895,575	44.8%	2,728,241	43.3%	Lost
2004		3,850,368	44.6%	–	–	Lost
2008		4,056,634	47.9%	4,501,466	50.1%	Won
2012	John Dramani Mahama	5,574,761	50.7%	–	–	Won
2016		4,713,277	44.4%	–	–	Lost
2020		6,213,182	47.36%	–	–	Lost

Parliamentary elections

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Result
1992	1,521,629	77.5%	189 / 200	189	1st	Supermajority government
1996	4,099,758	57.4%	133 / 200	56	1st	Majority government
2000	2,690,360	57.4%	91 / 200	42	2nd	Opposition
2004	3,567,021	40.9%	94 / 230	3	2nd	Opposition
2008	3,776,917	44.2%	116 / 230	22	1st	Majority government
2012	5,155,617	46.7%	148 / 275	32	1st	Majority government
2016	4,713,277	44.4%	104 / 275	44	2nd	Opposition
2020	6,094,478	46.2%	137 / 275	32	2nd	Opposition

Governments formed

Since the NDC was formed, it has formed two governments following elections, and a third following the death of President Mills. The list of governments is as follows:

Rawlings government (1993–2001)
Mills government (2009–2012)
Mahama government (2012–2017)

National Executives

The National Democratic Congress holds elections every four years to elect its national executives.

2018 to present

The National Democratic Congress held its national delegates conference on 17–19 November at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, La, Accra. Below is the full list; National Chairman – Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo,

First Vice Chairman – Chief Sofo Azorka., Second Vice Chairperson Sherry Ayitey, Third Vice Chairman – Alhaji Said Sinare, General Secretary – Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, First Deputy General Secretary – Madam Barbara Serwaa Asamoah,

Second Deputy General Secretary – Peter Boamah Otokonor, National Organiser – Joshua Hamido Akamba, First Deputy National Organiser – Kobby Barlon, Second Deputy National Organiser – Chief Hamilton Biney Nixon, National Communications Director – Sammy Gyamfi,

First Deputy Communications Director – Kwaku Boahene, Second Deputy National Communications Director – Godwin Ako Gunn, The National Zongo Caucus Coordinator – Alhaji Mamah Mohammed,

National Executive Committee Members:

The National Executive Committee Members: Madam Evelyn Enyonam Mensa, Alhaji Adramani Haribu, Sheriff Abdul Nasiru, Alhaji Babanlame Abu Sadat and Mr William Wilson Agbleke, National Youth Organiser – George Opare Addo, First Deputy National Youth Organiser – Edem Agbana, Second Deputy National Youth Organiser – Ruth Dela Sedoh, National Women’s Organiser – Hanna Louisa Bissiw, First Deputy National Women’s Organiser – Maame Efua Sekyi Addo, Second National Women’s Organiser – Madam Abigail Elorm.

Full List of NDC’s 2022 National Executives

Delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have elected new National Executives of the party to run the party’s affairs for the next four (4) years.

The new executive officers were elected at the 10th National Delegates Conference held at the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra on Saturday, 17th December, 2022.

The former General Secretary of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has unseat the incumbent National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo

According to the final collation sheet, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah won with a total of 5,569 votes representing 65.17% against Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo who had 2,892 votes representing 33.81%.

Other Chairmanship aspirant Samuel Yaw Adusei had total votes of 52 representing 0.61% while Nii Armah Ashitey had 38 votes representing 0.44%.

Also, the former Member of Parliament for the Ketu South Constituency Honourable Fifi Fiavi Kwetey has won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Secretary position.

He won the General Secretary race against the former Deputy General Secretary Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah in a keenly contested election.

Provisional Results from all the 17 polling stations indicate that Honourable Fifi Fiavi Kwetey won the NDC General Secretary position with a total of 4,536 votes, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor had 2,584 votes and Honourable Elvis Afriyie Ankrah had 1,401 votes.

Joseph Yammin also unseats the incumbent National Organizer Joshua Hamidu Akamba.

RECOMMENDED:

1.

Below is the full list of winners of the 10th NDC National Executive Elections

National Chairman

Johnson Asiedu Nketia

Vice Chairmen

1. Awudu Sofo Azourka – 1st Vice Chair
2. Dr Sherry Ayittey – 2nd Vice Chair
3. Yakubu Abanga Alhassan – 3rd Vice Chair

General Secretary

Fifi Fiavi Kwetey

Deputy General Secretary

1. Barbara Serwaa Asamoah

2. Gbande Foyo Mustapha

National Organiser

Joseph Yammin

Deputy National Organisers

1. Kobby Barlon
2. Elikem Kotoko

National Communications Officer
Sammy Gyamfi – Unopposed

Deputy National Communications Officers

1. Malik Basintale
2. Godwin Ako Gunn

National Zongo Caucus Coordinator

Mamah Cole Younger

NEC Members

1. Wonder Victor Kutor
2. Araba Tagoe
3. Cecilia Asaga
4. Victoria Kuma-Mintah
5. Ephraim Nii Tan Sackey

National Women’s Organiser
Hannah Louisa Bissiw

Deputy National Women’s Organiser
1. Abigail Akwambia
2. Dzifa Tegah

National Youth Organiser
George Opare Addo

Deputy National Youth Organiser

1. Osman Ayariga
2. Ruth Seddoh

Death of the Founder

The NDC decided to hold a vigil in memory of JJ Rawlings,the founder of the party who died on 12 November 2020 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Former President John Mahama

Ghana’s Most Authentic Political News Platform

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be Reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the Content.© 2020 Ellis Multimedia: PoliticsGhana.com: All Rights Reserved.♥

NDC2024: Executives promise Mahama overwhelming Endorsement during Primaries

By

-

March 18, 2023

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 18 |NDC2024: Executives promise Mahama overwhelming Endorsement during Primaries

Branch and Constituency Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) across the country are making bold declarations of their endorsement of John Dramani Mahama as the 2024 Presidential Candidate of the party.

8E2455C6 C60F 4159 A85A B458A3FB897A

Mr. Mahama, who launched his campaign earlier this month in Ho, has so far toured four regions to campaign, with executives overwhelmingly announcing their support, endorsement and votes for him in the May 13, 2023, primaries.

Venues for John Mahama’s constituency meetings are filled to capacity, with non-executives and party supporters also present to remind their executives that they expect nothing from them but an emphatic and full endorsement for John Mahama.

_“Our party does not have space for a failed experiment. John Mahama is not only experienced, but he has also been tested and tried. We know him and his works. Jaman is what it is today because of the development John Mahama gave us as President,”_ a delegate from the Jaman North Constituency said.

A party supporter speaking at Kukuom in the Asunafo South also said, _“… the only reason why I am here is to caution our executives against any act that shows ungratefulness to John Mahama. They must all vote and give John Mahama 100% here.”_

Thanking the people for their prayers and support, Mr. Mahama assured them that he will work very hard with them across the country to win the presidency and majority of seats in parliament.

RECOMMENDED:

Addressing executives in the Ahafo Region, the former president thanked God for his life, noting “He has always been my guide.”

President Mahama has decided to visit all constituencies to campaign and interact with the party’s structures, despite the obviously overwhelming support from the rank and file of the NDC. He has so far visited the Volta, Bono East, Bono and Ahafo Regions.

He has called for hard work, greater commitment, and unity among the executives at all levels, insisting that campaign and party materials and logistics must be deployed to the branches where they are needed.

“With togetherness, we shall win the 2024 elections, salvage what is left of our bankrupt country and build the Ghana we want, together,” he added.

Signed:
Joyce Bawah Mogtari
Spokesman, John Mahama Campaign
March 15, 2023.

Ghana’s Most Authentic Political News Platform

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be Reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the Content.© 2020 Ellis Multimedia: PoliticsGhana.com: All Rights Reserved.♥

John Dramani Mahama’s Education and Political History Since1958

By

-

March 18, 2023

John Dramani Mahama's Education and Political History mills — Former President Mahama speaking at the wreath-laying ceremony

Table of Contents

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 18 |John Dramani Mahama’s Education and Political History

John Dramani Mahama was born on the 29th of November 1958 in Damongo, the then capital of the West Gonja District of the Northern Region. His father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama, a prominent rice farmer was a Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region under Ghana’s first leader, President Kwame Nkrumah.

John Mahama spent the first years of his life with his mother, Abiba Nnaba, in Damongo, before moving to Accra to live with his father, who imbued him with a strong passion for education. He received his basic education at Achimota Basic School, where he began defending other children from bullies, and later moved to the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale.

STUDIES

He later gain admission into the country’s premier university, the University of Ghana, in Legon, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1981. After his BA degree, John Mahama moved back to Tamale, where he taught history at Ghana Secondary School. However, the political and economic situation in Ghana forced him to flee to Nigeria, where he rejoined his father who was in exile.

Post-graduate studies

In 1983 he came back, with a strong desire to build bridges between people through
communication, so he enrolled in a post-graduate programme in Communication Studies at
the University of Ghana.

ENTRY INTO GHANAIAN POLITICS

He graduated in 1986 and then went to Moscow, in the former Soviet Union, to the Institute of Social Sciences, where he received a post-graduate degree in Social Psychology in 1988. While in Moscow, he noted the imperfections of the Socialist System and came to the realization that each nation had to find it’s own transformative way, away from ideological dogmas.

Graduation

1996 marked the year John Dramani Mahama entered Ghanaian politics. He joined the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and, being an eloquent champion of the
underprivileged, he was elected to the Parliament of Ghana to represent the Bole- Bamboi Constituency for a four-year term. He was re-elected in the elections of 2000 and 2004.

Minister for Communications

During this time, he was appointed a Deputy Minister for Communications in 1997, and became Minister for Communications from 1998 until 2001.

Parliamentary Spokesman

Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Communications from 2001 until 2005

Vice President of Ghana

Mr Mahama was nominated as running mate to Professor John Evans Atta Mills in 2008 becoming Vice President of Ghana in 2009

RECOMMENDED:

PRESIDENT OF GHANA

In July 2012, he succeeded his boss who passed away on July 24, 2012, and elected in December 2012 as President of Ghana for his first four-year term. He thus made political history by becoming the first Ghanaian head of state to have been born after Ghana’s declaration of independence on 6th March 1957.

While serving as Minister for Communications, John Mahama was also the Chairman of the National Communications Authority and played a key role in the stabilization and transformation of Ghana’s telecom sector.

During his Presidency, Ghana witnessed important transformations, the most important of which was the building of a more vibrant democracy. In 2012, Ghana’s score in the Democracy Index was 6.02, being ranked 78^th in the world.

In 2016, when he left office, Ghana’s score was 6.75, placing it as 54th in the world – and making it the 5^th most democratic country in Africa.

During his entire life and throughout his political career, John Mahama has been a champion of the underprivileged, a unifier, who moves above tribal politics; a strong supporter of public education for all; and a visionary, seeking to transform Ghana in fundamental ways.

Also under his Presidency, Ghana’s ranking regarding equality between men and women rose from 71^st in the world in 2012 to 59^th in the world in 2016.

Equally important, under President Mahama, Ghana’s ranking when it comes to the freedom of the press rose from 41st in 2012 to 26^th in 2016, turning Ghana into a world champion of the free press. Unemployment fell from 3.6% in 2012, to 2.3% in 2016. The coefficient of human inequality decreased from 31.9 in 2012, to 28.8 in 2016. Inequality in education fell from 40.9% in 2012, to 34.9% in 2016.

All in all, John Mahama’s Presidency was a truly transformational one.

His book, ‘My First Coup d’État and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa’, published in July 2012, has won international praise for describing a world of love, fear, faith, despair, loss, longing, and hope despite all else.

He recalls in its first chapter the day in 1966 when he learned of the ousting of Ghana’s founding president, Kwame Nkrumah, in a military coup: “When I look back on my life it’s clear to me that this moment marked the awakening of my consciousness. It changed my life and influenced all the moments that followed.”

He has also written essays, which have been published in the Ebony, Huffington Post, the New York Times and The Root.

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be Reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the Content.© 2020 Ellis Multimedia: PoliticsGhana.com: All Rights Reserved.♥

It’s a bit silly Calling on me to refund Ex-Gratia – John Mahama to critics

By

-

March 6, 2023

Table of Contents

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 06 |It’s a bit silly Calling on me to refund Ex-Gratia – John Mahama to critics

Former president John Dramani Mahama has questioned the logic behind calls for him to refund his ex-gratia following his promise to cancel the existing emolument structure for Article 71 Office Holders when he comes back to power.

According to Mr Mahama, he rather finds it mindless for his critics including some people with legal backgrounds to demand such a retrospective action that runs contrary to the constitution.

“You must show by example. If the economy is in crisis why should we take ex-gratia when the rest of the public and civil service don’t take it?

“So, I said categorically that we will cancel ex-gratia. And then somebody who should know better, a lawyer, he said then I should refund all the ex-gratia we took before to show that we are serious about canceling it.

“He does not even know the principle in our constitution that says you cannot pass retroactive legislation. If you pass legislation today, it does not affect what happened in the past. And what he says is a bit silly because it’s like saying that because we’ve introduced free SHS all of us should go and get a refund of our school fees that we paid in the past.

“That is how silly what he is saying is. And so they should state what their position is, are they in favor of ex-gratia? Or do they agree with us that we should cancel it?

“We are saying 2025 when we come, we will cancel ex-gratia,” the former president stressed when he interacted with some members of the National Democratic Congress in the Ketu South District of the Volta Region as part of his campaign for the party’s upcoming flagbearership.

RECOMMENDED:

Promise to end ex-gratia and run a lean government

Former President John Dramani Mahama has promised to scrap the retirement benefit given to the Executive under Article 71 officeholders, known as ex-gratia, when he becomes president again.

According to him, his government will start the constitutional processes to scrap ex-gratia in the first year of his administration.

The former president, who made these remarks at the launch of his campaign to become the flagbearer of the NDC on Thursday, added that his government would also work to scrap ex-gratia benefits given to appointees under the other arms of government.

“The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive under Article 71 will be scrapped. And the necessary constitutional steps to abolish that payment will start in earnest in 2025.

“We will also begin the process of persuading the other arms of government other than the executive to accept the removal of this ex-gratia payment,” he said.

Mahama also said that his administration would focus on reducing the president’s powers and ensuring the separation of powers among the three arms of government: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.

He also said that he would run the leanest government Ghana has ever had in the 4th Republic, with ministers and deputy ministers not numbering more than 60.

Reactions to Mr Mahama’s promise

While Mr Mahama’s promise to cancel ex-gratia has largely been received by members of the public, his biggest critics including members of the ruling New Patriotic Party have questioned his integrity and motive for making such a promise.

Some of his critics have thus dared the former president to return all emoluments he has received over the years as proof his commitment to his promise to scrap ex-gratia.

Mahama teases Bawumia, mimics ‘solid Economic Management Team’ announcement in Video

By

-

March 6, 2023

BY Mahama teases Bawumia, mimics ‘solid Economic Management Team’ announcement in Video GHANA — Former President John Mahama

RECOMMENDED:

What is your position on ex-gratia? – John Mahama to NPP

By

-

March 6, 2023

Table of Contents

Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 06 | What is your position on ex-gratia? – John Mahama to NPP

Former President John Dramani Mahama has challenged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to state their position on the ex-gratia payment to Article 71 officeholders.

In a tweet shared on Sunday, March 5, 2023, the former president said that rather than criticizing his promise to scrap ex-gratia, the NPP should state their position on the issue which is at the heart of every Ghanaian.

“Does the NPP support my call for the scrapping of the payment of ex gratia to members of the executive or not?” parts of the tweet.

The tweet Mahama shared also had a video of him explaining his proposal to scrap ex-gratia to delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ketu South in the Volta Region.

Promise to end ex-gratia and run a lean government:

Former President John Dramani Mahama has promised to scrap the retirement benefit given to the Executive under Article 71 officeholders, known as ex-gratia when he becomes president again.

According to him, his government will start the constitutional processes to scrap ex-gratia in the first year of his administration.

The former president, who made these remarks at the launch of his campaign to become the flagbearer of the NDC on Thursday, added that his government would also work to scrap ex-gratia benefits given to appointees under the other arms of government.

“The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive under Article 71 will be scrapped. And the necessary constitutional steps to abolish that payment will start in earnest in 2025.

“We will also begin the process of persuading the other arms of government other than the executive to accept the removal of this ex-gratia payment,” he said.

RECOMMENDED:

Mahama also said that his administration would focus on reducing the president’s powers and ensuring the separation of powers among the three arms of government: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.

He also said that he would run the leanest government Ghana has ever had in the 4th Republic, with ministers and deputy ministers not numbering more than 60.

Public Reactions

Mahama’s promise to cancel ex-gratia has largely been received by members of the public, but his biggest critics including members of the ruling New Patriotic Party have questioned his integrity and motive for making such a promise.

Some of his critics have thus dared the former president to return all emoluments he has received over the years as proof of his commitment to his promise to scrap ex-gratia.

View the former president’s tweet below:

mills — Former President Mahama speaking at the wreath-laying ceremony

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be Reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the Content.© 2020 Ellis Multimedia: PoliticsGhana.com: All Rights Reserved.♥

Lagos Is A Yoruba Land, Not No Man’s Land – Yul Edochie

By

-

March 5, 2023