The Legal Counsel to Ex President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, Kow Abaka Essuman has requested from the Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, all emoluments and salary arrears owed him for his work as a Presidential Staffer during the President’s tenure.
In a letter to the Finance Minister signed by his lawyers, Mr Essuman questioned the Minister’s silence on the fees owed him for his services to the State.
He further asserted that Members of Parliament, MMDCES and others on the government’s payroll who worked from January 2021 to January 2025 have all been paid the benefits and arrears due them.
“Our Client further informs us that the Speaker and Members of Parliament (including yourself), former Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MMDCEs, and the Chairman and Members of Council of State who served during the relevant period have received their respective salary arrears and terminal benefits. Our Client, together with other former Presidential Staffers who served at the Office of the President in the previous administration, remained unpaid”, the letter said.
Mr Essuman said those salaries and entitlements were due to be paid after President Akufo-Addo’s tenure ended, as that was the term for his appointment.
In the letter, he listed those terms:
“a) Four (4) months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service or part thereof;
b) An Installation Grant equivalent to one (1) month’s salary;
c) A Resettlement Grant equivalent to one (1) month’s salary for each year or fraction thereof served,” all which were supposed to be payed to him right after he completed his duties on January 7th last year.
He referenced Section 2 (C) (ii) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 which mandates a new government “to ensure that the salaries, allowances, facilities, privileges and the retiring benefits or awards as determined by Parliament under clause (2) of article 71 and which are due to the holders of the offices specified in Article 71 of the Constitution are paid or accorded to those persons without undue delay.”
The lawyer wants his outstanding arrears to be paid by Friday, September 11, 2026, or proceedings for a suit will follow the letter to “recover the outstanding principal amount, interest, and costs, without further recourse to the Ministry.”