I’ll End Freebies for Gov’t Officials- Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to end some free services government officials enjoy in the country as part of efforts in attaining fiscal discipline if he wins power in the upcoming general elections.

The 2024 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said government officials will not enjoy free utilities, fuel, DStv, and other perks.

“We will discontinue the payment for utility bills, fuel, DStv, etc as conditions of service for top government officials, directors and the political class.

“I believe people must take up paying their own electricity and water like every other Ghanaian does. Unless you are using a government vehicle on a government assignment, you should buy your own fuel and so we are going to discontinue that.”

He made these known during an engagement with the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Irchad Razaaly when he was outlining some policies and measures he intends to institute on his desired comeback.

Mahama continued the tenure of the late John Evans Atta Mills who died while serving as the country’s third President in the fourth Republic in July 2012.

He went on to win the Presidential Elections in December and exited office in 2017 when he was voted out and replaced with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over economic mismanagement and corruption.

Over the years, the Akufo-Addo-led administration has come under public backlash for its large government size and its significant outlay.

The promise by Mahama who is also promising to cut government size is anticipated to sit well with Ghanaians.