Former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to urgently intervene to secure the payment of their long-outstanding end-of-service benefits, warning that the prolonged delay has had severe human and financial consequences.

The appeal was contained in a New Year message addressed to the President by Leo-Nelson Adzidogah, former Municipal Chief Executive for Akatsi South, on behalf of his former MMDCE colleagues across the political divide.

In the message, Mr Adzidogah welcomed President Mahama’s January 1 New Year address to the nation, particularly his call for unity beyond partisan lines, and urged the President to translate that message into action by resolving the unpaid benefits issue.

“Your message was out of the ordinary as you emphasised the need for us to see ourselves as one people defined by a common destiny,” he said, adding that former MMDCEs from both the NPP and NDC shared that same sentiment.

According to him, the delay in paying the end-of-service benefits has become a “national tragedy,” noting that several former MMDCEs have died while others are battling serious health conditions they can no longer afford to treat.

“A lot of our colleagues have gone to eternity because they could not afford their medical bills. Some are also battling with ill health and need money to pay bills,” he stated.

Mr Adzidogah reminded President Mahama that similar benefits were promptly paid to former MMDCEs in 2017 under the Akufo-Addo administration, following the end of Mahama’s first term, and expressed hope that the current President would show the same level of compassion.

“We are highly optimistic that you will not ignore our plea. You cannot deny your fellow citizens what is due them,” he said.

He also highlighted the personal toll of the delay, revealing that many former MMDCEs and their families were unable to enjoy the recent Christmas festivities due to financial hardship.

The appeal comes amid broader public conversations about welfare obligations to former public officeholders and the need for continuity in governance transitions.

Former MMDCEs play key roles in local administration and political mobilisation, and unresolved benefit issues have remained a recurring concern after changes in government.

The group says it remains hopeful that the President will issue a directive for the payment of the benefits in the spirit of national unity and cooperation he outlined in his New Year message.