Accra: President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has issued a sarcastic appeal to Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, urging him to address the 20-month salary arrears and terminal benefits owed to former presidential staffer Kow Essuman. In a recent Facebook post, Cudjoe expressed that Essuman is willing to accept his outstanding dues without interest, aligning with others affected by the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
According to Ghana Web, Cudjoe's comments were a satirical nod to Essuman's financial demands, given his service under the Akufo-Addo administration, which introduced the DDEP. Cudjoe wrote, 'My dear Dr Ato Baah Cassiel Ato Forson, please I have spoken to Kow Essuman. He is willing to accept the 20-month salary arrears without any interest in solidarity with all who were affected by the DDEP. Please save a soul.'
The appeal emerges against the backdrop of Essuman's public frustration regarding the government's failure to address his remuneration and terminal benefits since his tenure concluded on January 7, 2025. Essuman, who served as Legal Counsel to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and later as Acting Secretary to the President, has taken legal measures to secure his payment.
In a Facebook post dated September 10, 2026, Essuman indicated his patience has run thin after a 20-month wait. He demanded payment by Friday, September 11, warning that any further delay could prompt legal action against the State, including claims for interest and legal costs. His legal representatives, in a letter dated September 8, 2026, highlighted that the salary arrears and terminal benefits were due immediately post-service, referencing the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), which mandates prompt payment of dues to specified public office holders.