The Deputy Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah, has claimed that former President John Dramani Mahama spent approximately GH¢32 million on himself since leaving office in 2017.
Owusu Bempah urged Ghanaians to disregard the former President’s criticisms of wasteful public spending, alleging that Mahama has personally benefited significantly from state funds.
In a Facebook post, he argued that accountable leadership and former President John Mahama have no correlation, emphasizing that the former president has been claiming expenses for his current residence and emoluments since 2017.
According to Owusu Bempah, Mahama has received as much as GH¢18 million from taxpayers, in addition to GH¢14 million in ex-gratia.
Despite pledging to scrap ex-gratia if elected again, Mahama continues to benefit from substantial state resources.
He detailed that Mahama, aside from the GH¢14 million ex-gratia, retired on a salary of GH¢22,809, which has since increased to GH¢35,000 monthly due to recommendations from the Presidential Emoluments Committee on the conditions of service for Article 71 officeholders.
This adjustment means that since his departure from office, Mahama has received a non-taxable salary of GH¢1,934,832.00. Additionally, he has received GH¢9,123.00 monthly as rent, totaling GH¢629,487.00 in accommodation allowance since 2017.
Owusu Bempah further alleged that Mahama still benefits from various state-provided services and staff, including his niece Joyce Bawa Mogtari and Felix Ofosu Kwakye, who receive GH¢9,000 each month as allowances.