A former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah, has said it is "morally reprehensible" and an "immoral act" for a small and relatively poor country like Ghana to be giving state properties to former state officials including presidents as part of their retirement package.
“Did Americans do that: give their presidents a place to live? Obama I am told was buying a house in Washington. But is America obliged to give him a place of residence? Why should we do it? I mean if America, which is ten times richer than us, is not giving their presidents [state houses, then why should we do it?]” Brig Gen Nunoo-Mensah told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Monday, 23 January.
His comments come in the wake of a recent controversy regarding former president John Mahama’s request to keep the state property he occupied while in office, as part of his retirement package.
“I’m sure that if President Mills had lived and finished the eight years, I know him very well, he won’t go and get a state house, he will go and live in some small house at Spintex road. So, it depends on the integrity of the people we are talking about,” Brig Gen Nunoo-Mensah said.
He said instead of politicians grabbing state properties for themselves, they should rather empathise with the poor, ordinary taxpayer by being moderate. “We should have sympathy for our suffering people; the elections we just had told us many things. …Those who are coming shouldn’t think that they can come and do whatever they like. Ghanaians have changed and they will change again if they don’t meet their needs, which are plenty …” he urged.
Source: Classfmonline
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This Mensah -Nunoo is a HYPOCRATE AND A DUBIOUS MAN of the first order ; why did he not raise these issues when he was advising Jon Mahama and has he forgotten his in famous insinuations to Ghanaians under Jon Mahama / today he is attempting to repair the damage so Nana Addo will give him another position ;Nana Addo has competent military men to seek advice from besides Ghanaians are fed with these retired so called army officers who have never fought in a war similar to JJ Rawlings but prefer to come to power by any dubious means to still our resouces ;what did you do when JJ Rawlings was killing all these army officers and judges ; look at what has happened in the Gambia with YaYa Gammeh lutting the peoples money ; same with JJ Rawlings who stole our monies ; stole our fifty notes and kept it in his house ; received cash from Sanni Abacha and sold state industiries to his wife Nana Konadu; Msnsah -Nunoo was unable to stand up to JJ Rawlings but rather saluted him under the guise of accountabity; probity and transparency ; MENSAH -Nunoo just GO AWAY WE DO NOT WISH TO HEAR FROM AGAIN !!!BECAUSE JON MAHAMA IS NO MORE !!!!!!
Even if US is not doing it, why should a poor country like Ghana be doing it?. Same for people in public office---they don't also enjoy these perks in US. These are unnecessary expenditures that must be stopped. How responsible will such people be if they enjoy these perks. The light in his room could be on the whole day, his home phone could be operating as a communication center because they do not pay bills.
THIS IS TRUELY THE ONLY TIME I HAVE HEARD SOMETHING SENSIBLE COME OUT OF THIS MAN.I HOPE ITS NOT BECAUSE OF AKUFFO ADDO.ALL FORMER HEADS OF STATE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN STATE HOUSES SHOULD BE SRTIPPED OF THE HOUSES AND GIVEN TO THE POOR.GREEDY BASTARDS.WITH ALL THE STATE PROPERTIES THAT RAWLINGS ACQUIRED,HE STILL TOOK 5 MILLION DOLLARS FROM ABACHA.GREEDY IDIOOOTS.ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
As far as I am concerned, you are right. Sir, when did you realise that it is not morally good? Is it due to the turn of Nana Addo? Anyways, I think, we need to look at the packages of ex-presidents, ministers, etc. We have the institution(s) in place,eg SSNIT. I would suggest, we strengthen these institutions to be responsible for them, as they are already responsible for other workers pension/retirement packages. Further, all packages must exclude housing and be in monetary form. The retiree should look for his/her own housing (4-bedroom max.) and buy if he desires.The state should not provide offices for ex-presidents, etc. We do not have the money and land for such purposes
Well said, Mr Nunoo-Mensah. People should remember that the President did not pay tax too.
I agree. Being President must be seen as a privilege and service to the nation, not for property grabbing. They retire on their salaries, and no tax!!! That is enough.