Kow Essuman, former Legal Counsel to ex-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has threatened legal action against the government if his outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits are not paid by Friday, September 11, 2026.
Lawyers for Mr Essuman say he has been awaiting payment of his entitlements since January 7, 2025, when he left office following the end of the Akufo-Addo administration.
In a letter dated September 8, 2026, the lawyers formally demanded that the Finance Ministry settle the outstanding amount, together with interest calculated from January 7, 2025, to the date of full payment at the prevailing commercial bank rate.
According to the lawyers, Mr Essuman’s terms of appointment entitled him to four months’ consolidated salary for every completed year or part thereof served, an installation grant equivalent to one month’s salary and a resettlement grant of one month’s salary for each year or fraction of a year served.
They argued that there was no justification for the prolonged delay in settling the former presidential adviser’s entitlements, particularly when other former public office holders had received their corresponding benefits.
The lawyers cited former Members of Parliament, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) among those who had received their exit benefits.
They also invoked the Presidential (Transition) Act, which provides for the payment of outstanding salaries and retiring benefits due to Article 71 office holders without undue delay.
The legal team said Mr Essuman had made several representations concerning the unpaid benefits but those efforts had not resulted in payment.
It has therefore given the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, until September 11 to ensure that the claim is fully settled.
The lawyers warned that failure to meet the deadline would trigger legal proceedings against the State to recover the outstanding principal amount, accrued interest and legal costs.
They, however, indicated that their client remained open to resolving the matter administratively and avoiding litigation.
“Our Client remains willing to resolve this matter without recourse to litigation,” the lawyers said.
They added that if payment was not made by the stated deadline, they had firm instructions to commence proceedings against the State “without further recourse to the Ministry.”
