Pay me or face court-Akufo-Addo’s ex-legal counsel tells Finance Ministry

Former Legal Counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kow Abaka Essuman, has threatened legal action against the state over unpaid salary arrears and terminal benefits.

Through his lawyers, VINT & Aletheia, Mr Essuman has demanded that the Ministry of Finance settle the outstanding amount, together with interest calculated from January 7, 2025, at the prevailing commercial bank rate.

The demand was contained in a letter dated September 8, 2026, and addressed to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

According to the letter, Mr Essuman served as Legal Counsel to the President from January 8, 2021, until the end of the Akufo-Addo administration on January 7, 2025. He was also appointed Acting Secretary to the President from October 3, 2024, alongside his existing role.

His lawyers say the terms of his appointment entitled him to four months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service or part thereof, a one-month salary installation grant and a resettlement grant equivalent to one month’s salary for each year or fraction of a year served.

They contend that those benefits became payable when his tenure ended but remain outstanding.

The letter relies on section 2(c)(ii) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), which requires the Transition Team to facilitate the payment of salaries, allowances and retirement benefits due to holders of offices covered by Article 71 of the Constitution without undue delay.

Mr Essuman’s lawyers allege that the Speaker and Members of Parliament, former ministers, deputy ministers, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, and members of the Council of State who served during the same period have received their arrears and terminal benefits.

They claim, however, that Mr Essuman and some other former presidential staffers from the previous administration remain unpaid.

The lawyers described the continued withholding of the benefits as “arbitrary, discriminatory, unfair and unlawful,” arguing that officials who served in comparable public offices had already received their entitlements.

They further stated that previous attempts to secure an administrative resolution had failed despite the time that had elapsed.

The Ministry was given until Friday, September 11, 2026, to pay the principal amount and accrued interest.

“Should payment not be made by the deadline, our client has instructed us to commence proceedings against the state to recover the outstanding principal amount, interest and costs,” the letter said in substance.

Copies of the demand were sent to the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the President, the Legal Counsel to the President and the Attorney-General.

The letter did not disclose the total amount being claimed, and the Ministry of Finance had not responded to the allegations in the correspondence.