Government has released funds for payment of ex-gratia to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). About GH¢4.4 million would be shared among the 170 chief executives who served under the Kufuor administration. Joy News’ Cyrus De-graft Johnson who has been following the payment reports that some former officials may have already benefitted from the package. “I am picking information that some of them have already started collecting the ex-gratia so they should be smiling all the way to the banks,” he said. The money has been outstanding since February last year when they handed over. Joy News sighted a letter dated 11th August, 2010 said to come from the Office of the President to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning detailing the amount to be paid to them. The number of officials on regional basis is as follows: Ashanti 28, Central 17, Western 17, Brong Ahafo 21 and Greater Accra 9. The rest are: Volta 18, Eastern 21, Northern 20, Upper East 10 and Upper West 9. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana