Former President, John Mahama, has revealed how he intends to transform the economy if given the nod.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful promised that if he returns to power, one of his priorities will be scraping ex-gratia payments to Article 71 officeholders.
He disclosed that his team would implement the most extensive constitutional, political, and governance reforms under the Fourth Republic with the aim of restoring confidence in Ghana’s systems while improving lives of Ghanaians.
“We will continue and bring to a conclusion the constitutional review process that was began by the late President Atta-Mills, which will include a review of the controversial Article 71, to reduce the number of office holders under Article 71, and reduce the disparities in privileges and monuments vis-à-vis the public sector and civil service.
“The payment of ex gratia to members of the executive under Article 71 will be scrapped. And the necessary constitutional steps to abolish that payment will start in earnest in 2025,” Mr Mahama promised.
He said this during the launch of his flagbearership bid on Thursday, March 2, at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho.
The former President added that his outfit would persuade the other arms of government, other than the executive to accept the abolishment of the payments of the ex gratia.
He also gave his word that another priority of his government would be to ensure that issues pertaining to the excessive powers of the president are successfully addressed.
“Proper separation of powers, strengthening of parliament, restoring the independence of the judiciary, independent and quasi-independent state institutions, and de-politicising them, will take centre stage of the new administration,” he told the gathering in the Volta Region.
He assured that his outfit would vigorously work to restore confidence in all the institutions of the state, “so that our people would see their institutions working for them, as they should, with uttermost professionalism and non-interference from political actors.”
