The Ga Dangme Lands Administration (GDLA) Arbitration Court has called on First Bank Ghana Limited to comply with a High Court order directing the bank to pay outstanding benefits to its former employee, Madam Martha Okpoti.
The call is contained in a letter dated August 12, 2026, addressed to the Managing Director of First Bank Ghana and signed under the GDLA Arbitration Court.
The letter follows a judgment of the High Court, Industrial and Labour Division II in Accra, which ordered the bank to reinstate Ms Okpoti after declaring her November 2022 summary dismissal unlawful, unconstitutional and procedurally flawed.
According to the judgment, delivered on June 5, 2026, the court directed First Bank Ghana to reinstate Ms Okpoti within three months and pay her all salaries, allowances and benefits due from November 11, 2022, the date of her dismissal, until her reinstatement.
The court also ordered the bank to pay the full amount due to Ms Okpoti from her Provident Fund, together with interest at the prevailing commercial bank rate, and awarded GH¢80,000 in costs against the bank.
Dispute over dismissal
Ms Okpoti, who joined First Bank Ghana in 2009 and rose to the position of Senior Banking Officer, was dismissed after the bank accused her of breaching procedure in obtaining an introductory letter to support a Canadian visa application.
The bank also raised concerns over her use of a customer’s bank statement in connection with the visa application.
However, the High Court found that First Bank Ghana had failed to establish a clear and existing rule prohibiting employees from obtaining introductory letters through branch managers at the time of the incident.
The court also found shortcomings in the disciplinary process against Ms Okpoti, including inadequate notice of the disciplinary hearing and restrictions on her ability to challenge evidence and call witnesses.
A further issue was that the bank had already issued Ms Okpoti with a written warning before subjecting her to another disciplinary process over the same conduct.
The court held that the subsequent disciplinary process amounted to double punishment and violated the constitutional protection against being punished twice for the same offence.
GDLA demands compliance
In its August 12 letter, the GDLA Arbitration Court urged First Bank Ghana to respect the court’s order and pay the amount due to Ms Okpoti.
The letter states that the payment should be made by September 6, 2026, which it identifies as the deadline approved, signed and sealed by the law court.
The GDLA further requested that the bank notify it in writing after the payment had been completed for purposes of its records and closure.
It also urged the bank to effect payment of the full amount ordered by the court to the former employee.
Warning over non-compliance
The GDLA letter warned that failure by the bank to comply with the order could lead to further actions.
Among the measures mentioned are a peaceful demonstration within Accra, media publications to inform residents of Accra and traditional sermons or pronouncements concerning the matter.
The administration, however, stated that it did not seek conflict but wanted peace, respect for the law and adherence to traditional values.
The latest development adds another layer to the employment dispute, which has already resulted in a significant judicial finding against the bank.
The High Court’s ruling itself quashed Ms Okpoti’s dismissal and ordered her reinstatement, with the court emphasising that the computation of the amount owed should be transparent and that Ms Okpoti should be involved in the process.
The dispute therefore remains focused on the implementation of the court’s financial orders as the September 6 deadline cited by the GDLA approaches.
