Social commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has called President Akufo-Addo to appoint a commission to investigate charges made by former President John Dramani Mahama that he has not been receiving his full retirement benefits.
In an interview with Peace FM, Mr Jacobs stated that if the allegations are accurate, it would be concerning if the former president used his retirement income to cover his office rent and other costs.
“We have to check out these facts and see if the claims by Mahama that he pays his own bills are true. If these claims are true, then it means he uses his pension for these things. I am very skeptical about the facts.
“The government should set up a committee to look into it. Because all payments made normally go through the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and the Auditor-General also audits it.
“So, these two organisations must be asked to bring out details of the payment they have made to Mahama. After they bring out the facts, then we will know whether what the former president is saying is true,” he added.
Former President John Dramani Mahama revealed that he is not fully enjoying the emoluments to which he is entitled as a former Head of State.
He revealed this while responding to remarks made by Kwame Baffoe Abronye, the NPP chairman for the Bono Region. Mr Abronye stated that Mr Mahama had received millions in lieu of ex-gratia payments.
However, the ex-president said that all he receives from the government currently is his monthly pension and that all other bills the state must cater for have not been attended to since he left office in 2017.
In an exclusive interview with TV3, Mahama said he is currently footing a myriad of bills, among others, his own light bills, fuel, office rent, and travel bills.
“They haven’t given me an office, I rent an office in East Cantonments, I pay the rent myself, I pay for my own fuel, the state doesn’t give me fuel. I pay my own domestic staff, I pay my own medical bills. I pay for my own air tickets when I travel,” he added.