We don’t owe Mahama – GOV’T responds to critics

Deputy Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has refuted claims that former President John Dramani Mahama has not been paid his wages and gratuities since he left office in January 2017.

Speaking to Journalists on Tuesday, the Ofoase-Ayeribi MP said all owed wages and emoluments owed the former President has been settled as of July 18.

According to, Oppong Nkrumah, government is not interested in maltreating the former President because nobody stays in power forever.

“As far as I know, he has been paid his ex gratia, he has been paid all arrears of his salary. He has been paid fully for this year 2018. Even as of July 18, his payments had gone through so we do not have issues with that” – he saqid.

Deputy Minister of Information was responding to earlier claims in the daily’s by the Mr Mahama’s spokeswoman, Joyce Mogtari Bawa that her boss has not received his emolument as recommended by the Edu-Buandoh Committee.

This, Ms Bawa said, the situation has resulted in a situation where the former first lady, Lordina Mahama, is taking care of him from the money she makes from her businesses.

“Maa Lordina is a very hard working woman; she is still running and managing her businesses and so I am sure that maybe she is the one taking care of our father [John Mahama] and by God’s grace everything is well but what government should give to them, none has been given,”she revealed on Okay FM’s “Ade Akye Abia” Morning Show.

This Oppong Nkrumah says, is a false publication in the media landscape, calling the general public not to believe such information for the NPP government adhere to betterment of every indiidual.

“Nobody is going to stay in politics forever so you want to treat everybody in the manner that is befitting and it is not in the interest of the current administration to treat him in an untoward way,” Oppong Nkrumah added.

Article 71 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that the determination of the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary paid from the Consolidated Fund would be determined by the President, on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by him and acting upon the advice of the Council of State.

Article 71 office holders include the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of Parliament (MPs), Ministers of State, political appointees and some public servants.