Politicians rush to criticize Kufuor's retirement package
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot

Accra, Jan 19, Ghanadot - The presidential committee on emolument has recommended a lavish living for ex-president John Agyekum Kufuor for serving his two consecutive terms as president of Ghana. According to the committee's report , former president should be given fully furnished residences that befit a former president at a place of his choice - one in Accra and another out of the national capital.

In addition, the former president would be entitled among other privileges, to six fully maintained comprehensively insured, fuelled and chauffeured-driven cars to be replaced every four years. The fleet comprise of three salon cars, two cross country cars and one all-purpose vehicle.

The committee also recommended that the former president receives a non-taxable ex-gratia award 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 of 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.

The report also noted that travelling in congested traffic by the former president would be facilitated by police escort bearing in mind security considerations.

According to the report, the former president and spouse are entitled to one overseas travel once a year with a maximum duration of 45 days, but if he had 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 a 24-hour security services, entertainment package for his leisure among others at the expense of the state.

Even before former President John A. Kufuor starts enjoying these privileges, critics are raising eyebrow over the benefits with recourse to the treatment he handed to his predecessor, former President J.J.Rawlings.
In his reaction, Mr. Alex Segbefia a member of the Transition Team of the current government, lamented that "our people are struggling to make ends meet, all the macro economy stability that the NPP was boasting with has been declining and the economy is moving at the wrong direction at the moment, how do you give yourself this and feel comfortable about it".

He said, the country needs funds to improve the health facilities in hospitals, raise the standard of education in the country and also create jobs for the people, so he does not the need why former president Kufuor should be lavished with all these when the Ghanaian is suffering.

According to him, former president Kufuor is not the only former president the country has and demanding for that lavish living is rediculous and unfair since the NPP government when in power refused to grant former president Rawlings that same liberties.

"I must say that the amount of wealth that is being lavished on former president Kufuor is too much, this is not the only former president that country has, he is asking for six vehicles, every four years, how many vehicles did president Kufuor and the NPP government in that eight year period, gave to former president Rawlings? They denied him of all his previleges and today, you areasking for all these".

Mr. David Ampofo, former chief campaign strategist of Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People's Party (CPP), was also unhappy about the recommendation from the Chinery Hesse Committee for allowing such an unfair treatment, not only on the economy but on Ghanaians as well.

He said, as a developing country, it is vital for the leaders to becareful with how they build the system of the country since that is what will determine the development of the nation and its people.

"We need to be careful, because we are building a system to deliver, we are not building a system just because we want to so if former president Kufuor is given all these things, will former president Rawlings also get his, and even when we want to stop this how can we do?

"How can we raise $1 million and give to him, when we need this money to improve lives and develop the country, I think something should be done about this". He said.

Ghanadot