Kow Essuman warns government he may sue over unpaid salary and benefits

Kow Essuman says he is prepared to take the government to court if his outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits are not paid. The former legal counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he would still prefer to settle the matter without litigation, but claims that attempts to resolve it through letters have gone unanswered. According to a letter from his lawyers, Vint & Aletheia, the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, was asked to arrange payment by September 11, 2026. The lawyers cautioned that legal action could follow if the deadline passed without settlement. The claims, as described in the letter, include four months of consolidated salary for each completed year of service, an installation grant equal to one month’s salary, and a resettlement grant calculated at one month’s salary for each year or part-year served. Essuman’s lawyers called the continued withholding of the money unfair and unlawful, and argued that other public officeholders had received their entitlements. Speaking to JoyNews’ Gemma Appiah, Essuman said he viewed the matter as contractual and hoped an agreement could be reached before the deadline. He also expressed frustration that he had not received a response from the Finance Minister and Attorney-General, saying the situation should not require a former official to repeatedly press for benefits he believes are due. Essuman said he had served not only as presidential legal counsel but later as acting Secretary to the President. He described the dispute as a matter of principle and said he remained open to resolving it, while maintaining that he was ready to pursue the case in court if payment was not made.