NDEBUGRE ENDORSES PACKAGE FOR FORMER PRESIDENTS (PAGE 14)

A former Member of Parliament, Mr John A. Ndebugre, has endorsed the retirement package for former presidents as proposed by the Chinery-Hesse Committee, emphasising that he sees nothing wrong with the former President going away with six vehicles.
Mr Ndebugre, the immediate past MP for Zebilla in the Upper East Region said the proposal as put forth by the committee was adequate to enable the retiring head of state function effectively in his new role.
He also condemned the demonstration by members of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) over the ex gratia issue, stressing that the action by the pressure group would be merely to make itself relevant.
“The CJA is redundant so they are trying to make themselves relevant. What the CJA should do is to demand the reduction of fuel prices as promised by the President during the campaign trail.
“They must start monitoring the activities of the new government and ensure that the government discharges its mandate according to the promises the NDC made”, he added.
There have been intense public debate and controversy over the retirement package ever since it was made public almost three weeks ago.
The committee recommended that former Presidents be given fully furnished residences that befit them at a place of their choice — one in Accra and another out of the national capital. A former President would be entitled, among other privileges, to six fully maintained comprehensively insured, fuelled and chauffeur-driven cars to be replaced every four years. The fleet comprises three saloon cars, two cross country vehicles and one all-purpose vehicle. The houses would be maintained by the state but would not revert to the state when the former President dies.
According to the report, the former President and spouse are entitled to overseas travel once a year with a maximum duration of 45 days, but if he has served two consecutive terms, he would be entitled to 65 days.
The former first couple, in addition to their privileges, will travel on diplomatic passports and courtesies accompanied by three professional and personal assistants and adequate security. The ex-President will have 24-hour security services, entertainment package for his leisure, among other provisions, at the expense of the state.
The committee also recommended that the former President receive a non-taxable ex gratia equivalent to 12 months’ consolidated salary for each full year of service but where the President serves a second consecutive term, an additional non-taxable resettlement grant representing six months’ consolidated salary for each full year of service or pro rata would be paid together with non-taxable ex gratia of 12 months’ consolidated salary for each year in office.
But Mr Ndebugre, a member of the last Parliament which saw the bill through, said although there was poverty in Ghana just as in other parts of the world, Ghanaians must learn to treat holders of the high office of the land in dignity, for “these are not things for personal aggrandisement”, he argued.
“To say that the immediate former President should be treated the way ex-President Limann was treated where his run-down pickup was pushed on the streets of Accra, is not a good suggestion.
“We should find out what the six cars are actually meant for and not condemn the proposals in a blanket manner. I have not read in detail what these cars are meant for but I can imagine that the former President will have two saloon cars to himself, another saloon car for his wife, two cross-country vehicles for long haul travels, one for the former President’s use and the other for his security detail, in addition to a pickup vehicle for carrying goods for the President’s family and others. These are not things for personal aggrandisement”, he posited.
According to Mr Ndebugre, considering all the criticisms over the ex gratia, it could happen that in future decent people would decline to go into public service and allow rabble-rousers to take over and run down the system.
“I do not have a problem with ex gratia because it is an entitlement”, he reiterated.
On whether he would stage a comeback, he said it was too early to tell, adding that those who had been elected must be given the chance to discharge their mandate.
“When it becomes critical and my constituents think that I should come back, I will rely on the counsel of the good people and give it a try. But I have also said I am getting old. I have children and other young men who have given me their support and if they also wish to try their hands at becoming MP, why not, I will give them the chance”, he added with finality.