Kow Essuman threatens to sue government over unpaid salary arrears and terminal benefits

Former legal counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kow Essuman, has threatened legal action against the government over unpaid salary arrears and terminal benefits, saying efforts to resolve the matter through correspondence have yielded no response.

The dispute follows a letter from his lawyers, Vint & Aletheia, to the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, demanding payment of Mr Essuman’s outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits by Friday, September 11, 2026.

The lawyers warned that failure to settle the claims by the deadline could result in legal action.

According to the letter, the entitlements being claimed include four months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service, an installation grant equivalent to one month’s salary, and a resettlement grant equivalent to one month’s salary for each year or fraction of a year served.

The lawyers described the continued withholding of the payments as “arbitrary, discriminatory, unfair and unlawful”, arguing that other public officeholders had received their entitlements.

In an interview with JoyNews’ Gemma Appiah, Mr Essuman said he was prepared to take the matter to court if the outstanding payments were not settled, although he hoped an agreement could be reached before then.

“I’m ready because this is contractual. I hope that we can resolve it before then. Honestly, but the attitude of the Finance Minister and the Attorney-General of not responding, not paying any heed to a former government official who’s written regarding salary arrears and terminal benefits is something that we really as a country need to look at,” he said.

Mr Essuman described the situation as unfortunate, arguing that he should not have to pursue the government repeatedly to receive benefits he believes are contractually due to him.

“It’s quite unfortunate. It shouldn’t get to this. It shouldn’t get to it. And I was not just a government official – I was legal counsel to the President and subsequently acting Secretary to the President. You know, that’s not how this country should act. It shouldn’t be me that should be writing to a Finance Minister to demand this. It’s completely on principle and unfair,” he said.

Mr Essuman says he remains willing to resolve the matter without litigation but is prepared to pursue legal action if the government does not address his claims.