There is huge controversy in Ghana over where the former president of that country, John Dramani Mahama will reside after exiting office this month following his defeat in last year’s presidential elections to current president Akufo-Addo.
This is because his decision to still stay in the house he occupied while serving as vice president and later president has been met with fierce opposition from some Ghanaians.
The former president according to local media made a request to the current government to still keep the house after exiting power as part of his retirement package.
That request according to Accra based Daily Guide newspaper has however been turned down by the government in a recommendation made to the president, Akufo-Addo by his transition team.
Yaw Osafo Mafo who led the transition team for the current president’s team is quoted by the Daily Guide as saying “We have not approved of his request, and I want to repeat we have received the request and the requests are two – for him to be given his ex-gratia where he lives and also be given another property as his office”.
But critics of Mr. Mahama say his request was unlawful unpopular since his government had rejected similar requests by government officials wishing to purchase residences assigned them while serving.
The country’s parliament passed a law to prohibit the practice. There have been groups of Ghanaians threatening to evict the former president forcefully if he refuses to vacate the property.
John Mahama lost last year’s presidential elections to President Akufo-Addo and aided in a peaceful transition of power as act that has attracted a lot of commendation from Ghanaians and other world leaders.
Source: Africafeeds.com
