Former Member of Parliament for Effia, Joseph Cudjoe, has questioned President John Dramani Mahama's commitment to abolishing ex-gratia payments for Article 71 office holders. Cudjoe argues that a government White Paper on constitutional review recommendations suggests the promise has been abandoned. This raises concerns about the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) key campaign pledge ahead of the 2024 general election.
The former Minister for Public Enterprises noted that the NDC had made the abolition of ex-gratia a flagship campaign promise. However, the White Paper does not propose eliminating the benefit. Instead, it recommends establishing an Independent Public Emoluments Commission to determine salaries, allowances, and benefits for Article 71 office holders. This directly contradicts the NDC's stated intention to scrap these payments.
This development fits into a broader narrative of public finance scrutiny in Ghana. The cost of governance, including emoluments for public officials, has been a recurring point of contention. Citizens and civil society groups frequently advocate for more prudent management of state resources. The debate around ex-gratia payments highlights the ongoing tension between political promises and the practicalities of governance, especially concerning public expenditure.
Mr. Cudjoe pointed out that the document explicitly refers to the President's retirement gratuity. It proposes that this gratuity be exempt from tax. This indicates that ex-gratia payments are expected to continue, rather than be abolished. He stated, "The unavoidable conclusion is that President Mahama has, at least so far, scrapped his promise to scrap ex-gratia."
The implications of this stance are significant for public trust and political accountability. If the government intends to fulfill its pledge, it must amend the White Paper. It also needs to introduce the necessary constitutional amendments to explicitly provide for the abolition of ex-gratia. Until such steps are taken, the public may view the campaign promise as abandoned. This could affect voter perception and the credibility of future political commitments. The market and public will closely watch for any official response or clarification from the presidency regarding this critical issue of public finance.