Ex-gratia payments an obscene loot of state resources — Kofi Bentil

A Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has described the payment of ex-gratia to public officials as a blatant exploitation of state resources, calling for an immediate end to the practice.

In a social media post on Thursday, January 2, 2025, Mr. Bentil labeled the payment as an unjustifiable drain on Ghana’s coffers.

His comments come at a time when Parliament is deliberating on the payment of ex-gratia to Article 71 officeholders.

“May this be the last year ex-gratia is discussed or paid. It’s obscene and an unconscionable loot of the State by its predatory leaders!!!” he wrote.

The payment of ex-gratia has sparked intense public debate in recent years, with many Ghanaians expressing outrage over what they consider to be unwarranted rewards for government officials.

Critics argue that the country’s economic challenges make such payments untenable.

Meanwhile, President-elect John Dramani Mahama has promised to abolish ex-gratia payments once he assumes office.

During his campaign, Mr. Mahama maintained that the system is unsustainable and unfair to the Ghanaian taxpayer.

The ex-gratia system, introduced as part of the 1992 Constitution, provides for lump-sum payments to Article 71 officeholders, including the President, Members of Parliament, and other high-ranking officials, upon leaving office.

However, calls for its review or outright cancellation have gained momentum in recent years due to concerns over its fairness and impact on the economy.