Kow Abaka Essuman, former Legal Counsel to former President Akufo-Addo, has demanded the immediate payment of his outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits, giving the Ministry of Finance until Friday, September 11, 2026, to settle the entitlements — or face legal action against the State.
In a letter dated September 8 and issued to the Ministry on his behalf, lawyers for Essuman warned that failure to pay by the deadline would leave them with “firm instructions” to commence court proceedings to recover the unpaidamounts, together with interest and costs
Background of Appointment
Essuman was appointed Legal Counsel to President Akufo-Addo in June 2021 for a four-year term spanning January 8, 2021, to January 7, 2025. He was subsequently appointed Acting Secretary to the President on October 3, 2024, in addition to his duties as Legal Counsel.
According to his lawyers, he served diligently until the expiration of the former President’s tenure on January 7, 2025, at which point he became entitled to his terminal benefits and outstanding salary arrears.
Under the terms of his appointment, Essuman is entitled to several terminal benefits, including four months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service or part thereof; an installation grant equivalent to one month’s salary; and a resettlement grant equivalent to one month’s salary for each year or fraction thereof served.
Legal Basis for the Demand
The lawyers anchored their demand on Section 2(c)(ii) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), which mandates the Transition Team to ensure that salaries, allowances, facilities, privileges and retiring benefits or awards — as determined by Parliament under Article 71 of the Constitution — are paid to holders of such offices “without undue delay.”
They argued that more than 20 months have elapsed since Parliament determined the relevant entitlements, yet their client remains unpaid.
“The Transition Team has long completed its work, and it has been over 20 months since Parliament determined the salaries, allowances, facilities, privileges and retiring benefits or awards due to holders of offices specified in Article 71 of the Constitution, and yet our Client, who was a holder of an office specified in Article 71, remains unpaid,” the lawyers stated.
They claimed several public officials who served during the same period — including Members of Parliament, former Ministers and Deputy Ministers, MMDCEs and members of the Council of State — had already received their respective salary arrears and terminal benefits.
According to the lawyers, previous representations on Essuman’s behalf were aimed at securing an administrative resolution and drawing the attention of the relevant authorities to the matter, but the issue remains unresolved despite the considerable time that has passed.
Interest, Deadline and Threat of Suit
Beyond the principal amounts, the lawyers are demanding interest on the outstanding entitlements from January 7, 2025, until the date of full payment, calculated at the prevailing commercial bank rate.
While affirming that Essuman remains willing to resolve the matter without litigation, they issued a clear warning: “If the outstanding entitlement is not paid by Friday, 11th September 2026, we have our Client’s firm instructions to commence proceedings against the State to recover the outstanding principal amount, interest, and costs.”
By Gifty Boateng