Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kow Abaka Essuman, is demanding the immediate payment of his outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits following the expiration of his tenure in January 2025.
Lawyers for Essuman, Vint & Aletheia, in a letter to the Minister of Finance gave a Friday, September 11, 2026 timeline, for the ministry to settle the outstanding payments, warning that failure to do so will result in legal action against the State.
Essuman was appointed Legal Counsel to President Akufo-Addo in 2021 and his term ended January 7, 2025.
According to the demand letter dated September 8, by a letter dated October 11, 2024, he was also appointed Acting Secretary to the President from October 3, 2024, in addition to his duty as Legal Counsel.
The letter states that it was indicated in Essuman's appointment letter that at the end of his tenure, he would be entitled to four months' consolidated salary for every completed year of service, an installation grant equivalent to one month's salary, and a resettlement grant equivalent to one month's salary for each year served.
The lawyers argued that Section 2(e)(ii) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845) mandates the Transition Team to ensure that salaries, allowances, facilities, privileges, and retiring benefits due to holders of offices specified in Article 71 of the Constitution are paid without undue delay.
They noted that it has been over 20 months since Parliament determined the salaries and retiring benefits for Article 71 office holders, yet their client remains unpaid, while the Speaker, Members of Parliament, former Ministers, and other officials who served during the relevant period have received their respective benefits.
"It is our position that where persons who served in comparable public offices during the same period have received their applicable benefits, the continued withholding of our Client's entitlement is arbitrary, discriminatory, unfair and unlawful," the letter stated.
The lawyers said Mr Essuman had on several occasions expressed concern about the non-payment and sought an administrative resolution, but the matter remains unresolved.
They are demanding payment of the full outstanding amount plus interest from January 7, 2025 until the date of full payment at the prevailing commercial bank rate, to be settled in full on or before Friday, September 11, 2026.
"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, without further recourse to the Ministry," the letter warned.
