The special Aide and adviser to the president, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has urged the country to stick to constitutional provisions and recommendations regarding benefits for former presidents.

She further advised leaders to avoid past mistakes in the treatment of ex-presidents, citing the “unfortunate, regrettable and unnecessary treatment meted out to President Mahama when he was a former president.

Speaking in a video shared on social media on January 12, 2026, Joyce Bawah said that the current government will not repeat what was done by the former government, adding that former President Akufo-Addo will be entitled to whatever is due him by the constitution.

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"President Akof-Addo will certainly be getting whatever it is that the Constitution says we should give him, whatever the recommendations are.

"And I hope that beyond what happened to Mahama, embarrassing as it was then and still is, I hope we don't repeat those sorts of mistakes. People come into the presidency, and they actually sacrifice a great deal, having served Mr. Mohammad all these years."

Joyce Bawah explained that serving as a president involves a great personal sacrifice, and it is reasonable for the state to provide former leaders with an accommodation or two and an office.

"It takes a lot to serve. For the citizens to offer a former president one house or two. I think it's not too much to ask. What President Akuf-ado and Vice President Mahmoud did to John Mahama is a matter that we would rather leave in the books of history. Unfortunate, regrettable, and unnecessary as it was.

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"I'm delighted that we came out of it. There are also many things that are still outstanding. You know, he never got his office, for example. And I think there's even a requirement that they be given a home, even in the places where they come from. Mahama still has his own house in Bole, for example, she added.

She said that John Mahama did not receive some entitlements due to him, including an office, and currently he operates from a rented facility in cantonments.

"He lives in his own house in Accra. He operates from his office in Cantonments, which we pay rent for. And I know because I was one of the very first residents of that office. Oh, he pays his water bill.

"He pays to renovate his home. Why, of course, he does. He does. Maybe we should codify some of these things going forward, because these things, you know, they're not."

Joyce Bawah called for a law binding the benefits of former presidents through legislation, suggesting a former presidents' bill to provide clarity and continuity.

"For example, we have a former president's bill or, you know, something that Parliament can take a close look at so that we define these things. I mean, every time they recommend to the Emoluments Committee at the dying members of the administration, maybe this should be done at the beginning. You know, governance, the continuity."

She urged that such measures would modernize governance and prevent disputes, ensuring that leaders who leave office after years of service are not left in a dilemma.

"And I believe that every day we modernize, and as we modernize, we start to do things differently and efficiently. I mean, can you imagine President Akofado leaving office after eight years at the ripe old age of 80 plus and being left stranded and not knowing what to do?"

"Look, maybe his children served in government, so they are better off. Mr. Mahama had very young children at the time. You've seen them all. They are all between the ages of 20 and 30. Just imagine what that was," she added.

Watch video below:

The Special Aide and Adviser to the President Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has called on Parliament and the state to consider legislation that would provide former presidents with certain privileges, such as one or two official residences, an office, and the waiver of domestic utility… pic.twitter.com/opKMAIG9gB

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) January 12, 2026