The essence of democracy practiced everywhere in the world is to make life and living a lot easier for the citizens.
It also among other things, supposed to give the governed confidence in the state and those running the affairs of state.
The citizens, in that circumstance, see it as their patriotic duty to do all within their power to preserve the system and if need be, pay the supreme price doing so.
It is for this reason that in 1992, Ghanaians in the record numbers voted in a referendum, which birthed the Fourth Republican dispensation.
The return to democratic rule, which was supposed to bring relief to Ghanaians, is being made to look by the political class like the military rule was rather better.
The recent banter between the former president, John Dramani Mahama and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) about the former president’s revealed that, he pays for his own water, electricity, rent, fuel, medical care, and plane tickets.
Mr Mahama made the revelation in an interview with TV3, where he also denied receiving GH¢14 million as his ex gratia payment.
These revelations by the former president, got the Communications outfit of the NPP to hurriedly organize a press conference to debunk the claim.
This is not the first time, the issue of ex-gratia, has come up in the public domain. It has been so since 2001, when power moved from a governing party to an opposition party.
It may be argued that these entitlements are backed by law. But who needs a law enacted to specifically serve the purpose of the makers of the law?
In a country where unemployment and youth restiveness are beginning to form an unhealthy disruptive partnership, this should not be an issue that should engage our attention as a nation.
It is pertinent to point out that politicians are not career public servants. The law that entitles them to these mouth-watering largesse after office, are self-serving in nature, as they are unknown to civil service rules and procedures.
As a newspaper, we appeal to all stakeholders to take a second look at the issue of ex-gratia, which has become a drain on state resources.
