Claims that judges receive ex-gratia malicious – AMJG

The Association of Judges and Magistrates Ghana(AMJG) has rubbished claims among the section of the media to the effect that judges of the Superior Courts are paid ex-gratia at the end of every four years.

According to the president of the Association, Justice Henry Kwofie, Judges do not receive ex-gratia and their salaries are even determined once every four years by the president on the recommendation of a Committee.

“That, the salaries of Superior Court Judges ie. (Supreme Court Judges, Court of Appeal Judges and High Court Judges) are determined once every four (4) years by His Excellency the President on the recommendation of a Committee appointed by the President under Article 71(1) of the Constitution 1992."

The issue of ex-gratia became a centre spread recently when a former Council of State member, Togbe Afede XIV returned over GHC 300, 000 which was ex-gratia paid to him for his service as member of the council between 2017-2020.

Addressing a press conference, he further noted that even when increases are effected in the salary of judges, they receive back pay in the form of lump sum or installments which is mischievously being described as ex-gratia.

“ That, if increases are effected in the salary as a result of the recommendations of the Committee , the judges are then paid arrears of salary commonly called Back pay arising from the back-dating of the salary increase.

This arrears of salary or back pay are accordingly paid inalumpsum or instalment. This has been the situation since 1996.

It is this arrears of salary or back pay which is mischievously being described as ex-gratia in the press particularly on radio, television and on social media platforms by some seasoned journalist and so-called social commentators who never attempted to look for the truth.
That the Association would like to state categorically that no Superior Court Judge is or has ever been paid ex-gratia every four years as being wrongly stated in the media."