Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah has criticized President John Dramani Mahama's recent announcement to cancel fuel allowances for political appointees, describing it as "populist gimmickry" that lacks genuine sacrifice and legal backing.
Assafuah argued that while the move might generate positive headlines, it exposes a deeper issue of "hypocrisy, not honesty." He questioned the President's sincerity, pointing out that the directive does not apply to Mahama himself because he is "elected" and therefore exempt. "So much for leading by example," he wrote on his official Facebook page.
According to Assafuah, the fuel allowances in question form part of official service conditions for government appointees, and cancelling them unilaterally amounts to "an illegal and unethical variation of service conditions to the detriment of officeholders." "That's not bold leadership, it's shallow populism," he stated.
Drawing on historical context, Assafuah recalled a similar episode in 2013 when then-President Mahama announced a 10% pay cut to fund CHPS compounds. "But what happened?" he asked. "Many of his own appointees secretly opted out, and at the instruction of his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, their monies were refunded.
