July 21, 2025 – A media practitioner in Accra, Mr. Francis Kwabena Cofie, has doffed his hat to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama for taking the bold step of scrapping fuel allowances hitherto enjoyed by government appointees.
According to him, the move is a novelty in Ghana’s democratic dispensation and comes as a great relief to the ordinary Ghanaian.
Mr. Francis Kwabena Cofie, who is also a social commentator, was speaking in an interview with the Nzema Today TV news team to shed light on the official announcement by President John Dramani Mahama that, henceforth, “fuel allowance to all political appointees must be scrapped.”
The President’s announcement came as a pleasant surprise and warm-hearted news to many Ghanaians across the political divide.
Mr. Francis Kwabena Cofie congratulated the President for taking a decision that forms part of the government’s resetting agenda.
He noted that there are other government workers, such as doctors and teachers, who render valuable services to the nation but do not depend on the state to fuel their vehicles.
The media practitioner stated that the move is in line with accountability and the protection of the public purse. He stressed that it is about time government decisions did not have far-reaching consequences on taxpayers.
Mr. Francis Kwabena Cofie appealed to the President to either extend other privileges enjoyed by Article 71 public office holders to other public sector workers or scrap them altogether in the interest of equity.
He observed that many people fight to enter politics mainly because of the fat salaries and fringe benefits that come with such appointments.
Mr. Francis Kwabena Cofie further reminded President John Dramani Mahama that more of such anomalies reserved solely for government appointees should be scrapped as part of the government’s resetting agenda.
By Kodwo Nyamekeh
