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Opinions of Friday, 16 March 2018

Columnist: Prince Tettey Nartey

Open letter to the President of Ghana

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo

Dear Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo,

How are you doing sir and I trust your week is going fine?

There's an issue I wish to discuss with you; please forgive me for having done so in the glare of the public.

Mr President, when a sitting president is allowed to stay in his private residence, it means that we would use taxpayers money to maintain the place and also add several features to the said edifice.

We would need to furnish it up to meet the standard requirements of the residence of a president. At the end of his tenure, would we take off all of such features that were added?

No. We would spend a lot in procuring security features, military presence, furniture, vehicles, basic utilities, labour and so on... the list continues. All of these expenses and many more on the blind side of the average Ghanaian tax payer. Moreover, we would still be spending more or equivalent to maintain the Flagstaff House at the same time.

This ends up as a cost to the taxpayer in millions of cedis which could have been avoided. Mr President, with all due respect, I know you are often cost-conscious based on your campaign promises, please kindly do the needful.

Mr president, please what about the quarterly ceremonial change of the guard at the presidency? Would you attend the ceremony and the move back home to spend your days and nights at Nima residence? while the Ghana Armed forces are guarding the Flagstaff house?

Hmmm!

Daddy, when a sitting president decides to stay in his personal residence, he begins to doubt safety and is likely to implore the National security.

This situation is likely to cause the eviction of traders/artisans in the neighbourhood if there be any. Paying compensations to such people cannot replace the loss of their jobs.

Please have mercy on these souls that have toiled for years to make a living to feed their families and the economy. You campaigned for their freedom and prosperity and not such awful and sorrowful eviction.

I trust that they have been gentle neighbours rather than a torn in your flesh.

I plead with you on behalf of my fellow youth in this nation, please have a second thought about your decision to maintain your private residence.

God bless you and God bless Ghana.

Yours Patriotic,

Prince Tettey Nartey