Kow Essuman demands unpaid salary and benefits from Ghana's Finance Minister

salary arrears terminal benefits Ministry of Finance Presidential Transition Act legal demand

Kow Abaka Essuman, the former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has issued a legal ultimatum to Ghana's Ministry of Finance. Through his lawyers at Vint & Aletheia, Essuman has demanded the immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits by Friday, September 11, 2026.

Essuman's tenure as Legal Counsel spanned from January 2021 to January 7, 2025, and he also served as Acting Secretary to the President starting in October 2024. His legal team asserts that he is entitled to specific benefits under his appointment, including four months’ consolidated salary for every year of service, an installation grant, and a resettlement grant.

The demand letter also includes a request for interest on the unpaid amounts, calculated at the prevailing commercial bank rate. The lawyers characterized the non-payment as “arbitrary, discriminatory, unfair and unlawful,” noting that while other high-ranking officials such as Members of Parliament and former Ministers have received their entitlements, former Presidential Staffers remain unpaid. Failure to meet the deadline will result in legal action against the state.

Entities

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson · Kow Abaka Essuman · Ministry of Finance · Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo · Vint & Aletheia Attorneys & Consultants

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Kow Abaka Essuman has issued a deadline of September 11, 2026, for the Ministry of Finance to pay his salary arrears and terminal benefits. rainbowradioonline.com · www.adomonline.com · www.myjoyonline.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Other public officials, including Members of Parliament and former Ministers, have already received their arrears and terminal benefits. www.adomonline.com · www.myjoyonline.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The lawyers are demanding interest on the unpaid amounts calculated at the prevailing commercial bank rate. rainbowradioonline.com · www.myjoyonline.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The legal team cited Section 2(c)(ii) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845) regarding the timely payment of benefits. rainbowradioonline.com · www.adomonline.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Essuman served as Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from January 8, 2021, to January 7, 2025. rainbowradioonline.com · www.adomonline.com · www.myjoyonline.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Essuman was also appointed Acting Secretary to the President on October 3, 2024. rainbowradioonline.com · www.adomonline.com · www.myjoyonline.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The demanded terminal benefits include four months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service, an installation grant, and a resettlement grant. rainbowradioonline.com · www.adomonline.com · www.myjoyonline.com