Former appointees under the immediate past John Mahama-led administration have begun receiving their end of service benefit popularly known as ex-gratia.

The former appointees especially ministers, their deputies and former Members of Parliament are being directed to the Flagstaff House for their packages, Accra-based Starr FM reports.

Whatsapp messages are reportedly sent to the former appointees after which they are asked to go to specific individuals at the presidency for their package.

READ ALSO: Article 71 Office Holders Pay Rise

The former Roads and Highways Minister, Minister Inusah Fuseini told Accra-based Starr FM that “I received a WhatsApp message that my end of service benefit as a minister was ready…initially when I got there, I parked my car outside and I was told I was a former minister so I should park inside.

“When I parked and was going into the Flagstaff House I just straight into the scanner and I was stopped and for the first time I realized there was a change of government.”

The ex-gratia is a lump sum paid to all officials who fall under the Article 71 office holders of the 1992 constitution. The payment is made after a new administration has taken office.

READ ALSO: President Mahama, et al get 10% pay rise

In December last year, there was an announcement of a 10 per cent raise for Article 71 office holders including the president, his ministers, and Members of Parliament.

The former president, John Mahama will be receiving GHS 22,809 per the raise.

As recommended by a report of the Presidential Committee on Emoluments signed by Prof Dora Francisca Edua-Buandoh, Mr Mahama and his outgone government, as well as, the new government will receive the raise from January 2017. The increment takes retrospective effect from 2013.