Akufo-Addo’s Former Legal Counsel Gives Finance Minister Ato Forson Sept. 11 Deadline To Pay Ex-Gratia

Lawyers for former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s former Legal Counsel, Kow Abaka Essuman, have given Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson until Friday, September 11, 2026, to settle his outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits or face legal action.

In a letter dated September 8, 2026, and addressed to the Finance Minister, the lawyers said Mr Essuman has been waiting for payments that became due after his tenure ended on January 7, 2025.

Mr Essuman was appointed Legal Counsel to then-President Akufo-Addo in January 2021. In October 2024, he was additionally appointed Acting Secretary to the President while continuing to serve as Legal Counsel.

According to his lawyers, the terms of his appointment entitled him to several terminal benefits, including four months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service or part thereof, as well as 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 legal team argues that the benefits, together with any outstanding salary arrears, became due immediately after the end of his service.

They also cited Section 2(c) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), which requires the Transition Team to ensure that salaries, allowances and retiring benefits owed to certain public office holders are paid without undue delay.

The lawyers further alleged that several former public officials, including the Speaker and Members of Parliament, former Ministers and Deputy Ministers, MMDCEs and members of the Council of State, have already received their applicable arrears and terminal benefits.

However, they said Mr Essuman and other former Presidential Staffers are yet to receive theirs.

They described the continued withholding of their client’s benefits, despite comparable former office holders receiving theirs, as “arbitrary, discriminatory, unfair and unlawful.”

The lawyers said Mr Essuman had made several representations to the relevant authorities to resolve the matter but had received no satisfactory response.

They are now demanding payment of the outstanding amount, together with interest accruing from January 7, 2025, calculated at the prevailing commercial bank rate.

The legal team has warned that failure by the Ministry of Finance to make full payment by September 11 will compel Mr Essuman to commence legal proceedings against the State to recover the outstanding sums, accrued interest and legal costs.

Despite the ultimatum, the lawyers said their client remains willing to resolve the matter amicably without going to court.