..being adviser means ability to foresee and be firm to warn of happenings at the moment and dangers in the future. I have expressed concerns over the role of the so-called advisers at the presidency, their relevance on official duties and how their work affects our well-being. For instance, l can’t imagine, how did we go from a booming economy in 2012 to the doorsteps of lMF in 2015 despite having a drove of advisers, the economy team led by Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Arthur Amissah had a slew of advisers, l can’t imagine we still have the erratic power and water supply, nor can l imagine the unfulfilled promise of affordable houses for citizenry. My frustration with advisers has resurfaced once again due to their inability to warn against the intention of acquisition – when the ‘president’ Mahama nursed the desire to make request for the edifice that housed him while in office as President – for it is against the laws of Ghana, they would have saved the president from the backlash and embarrassment both locally and internationally..
Civil society groups, including, Dr. Michael Jarvis Bokor, a professor at Department of English language pedagogy, Long Island, New York, United States, a pro-NDC opinion writer has written to question the morality or rather immorality of the immediate past president John Dramani Mahama’s request to have a house which he used while in office as part of ex gratia package
Bokor also questioned the scenario of how a salary earner (presidency as working for the state) is unable to secure, even, temporarily a house while he waits for his ex gratia to be delivered. Which as we all are aware of consists of houses; one in Accra and the other in his region of choice, cars, officials drivers maids and what-have-you. Now, if those who are not part of advisory body, could notice and advise the outgoing president his intention to acquire the house is a shot in the dark, what about those whose work is to give him advice, why didn’t they advise the president Mahama that he couldn’t get it because it is against the laws of Ghana?
The subject matter under discussion concerns office located at Ridge, a house at Cantonment both in Accra. The house has attracted much controversy because, the outgoing president’s stay in the house despite his tenure in office has elapsed, a situation which has left Dr. Mahamud Bawumia of the newly installed government of NPP, stranded. l mean, without official abode as he is set to discharge his duty as Vice President. The house previously was property of COCOBOD, configured and refurbished to fit status as well serve as place of dwelling for Vice Presidents of Republic of Ghana
The house was previously occupied by Professor John Evans Atta Mills under JJ Rawlings administration as Vice President, thereafter the same was occupied by Aliu Mahama of NPP (RIP). And when Mills became president in 2009, Vice President John Dramani Mahama, started occupying the house as his official residence and and continued as president of Republic of Ghana six years after the demise of Mills in 2010. Though he stayed in the Cantonment Residence for a period of eight years, he summarily usurped the right of Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur for six years
Now the logical question to be asked is which official house did Amissah live or use while working as Vice President of Republic of Ghana? At least, l know the President has a residence in Flagstaff or jubilee house, the seat of government. But the residence in the Flagstaff house serves as source of stress and distraction because it links with hectic day to day government business of running affairs of the nation on both national and international level
Hence there is need for getaway house for the all the Presidents, though there are presidential lodges at Peduase and elsewhere are for holidays retreat, they may be too far, as well not suitable to be used as official homes for the Presidents of Ghana. So far, ex-president JJ Rawlings is rumoured to have forcefully seized the house/s he used while in office at Ridge, ex-president Kufour continues to live in his residence near Tetteh Quashie roundabout while awaiting his ex gratia. The house he used while in office, though there is rumours that he used public purse for renovation but that house is his private house
Then, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, the current President of Republic of Ghana is likely to use his private Nima residence as his ‘official’ house. For the meantime l have no wind of which official house ex-president Mahama is going to settle after ultimately denouncing his initial bid of acquiring the house. With this, we can make greasy deduction that a lot more of houses are needed to fill the gap, for both past and present officials and the so-called advisers should advise for more constructions of government houses to be done
Desde luego, am certain, the legacy of the former president, John Mahama is tall once again after his careful decision to let go of the building, and supposed scheduled meeting between ex-president Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo, the actual president has nothing to do with the building in question
Comment: Usually, formation of advisory body in advanced countries, consists of professionals like lawyers, engineers, economists, ex-security personnel,etc. even ‘kayaye’
It is necessary to make clarification of the fact that though the house/s provided as part of ex gratia is not the same as the one/s given officials while in office