Ghana’s former President, John Dramani Mahama has refuted allegations leveled against him by a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea.
Nana Akomea speaking in an interview a few days ago alleged that the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) takes monthly ex-gratia.
“Let me give him one challenge, just one challenge, Togbe Afede said that for him he doesn’t believe in ex-gratia as a Council of State member, so what did he do?
“The ex-gratia that they gave him, he returned them to the government…after returning the money to the government, President Mahama praised him for doing that, saying he is a man of principle…so it means that Togbe Afede has principles by returning the ex-gratia.
“President Mahama, today if you claim you don’t believe in the ex-gratia, the ones that you have taken, we know that you have spent it already, so, we can’t say that go and bring it,” Akomea said.
Mahama via a social media post reacted to Akomea’s views saying: “Really sad what politics can do to a fine mind,” referring to Nana Akomea as “my friend.”
He clarified that as a former president, he receives a monthly pension and not ex-gratia as Akomea had claimed.
“My friend Nana Akomea. Really sad what politics can do to a fine mind! I don’t take ex-gratia. I receive a monthly pension,” Mahama’s May 26, 2023 post read.
My friend Nana Akomea. Really sad what politics can do to a fine mind!
I don't take ex-gratia. I receive a monthly pension.
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) May 26, 2023