Members of the Third Parliament of Ghana are threatening to picket at the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney Generals (AG) Department if salary arrears plus interest, allowances and other benefits due them are not paid according to an agreed settlement process.
The membership of the group, which numbered 200 then, including the sitting President John Dramani Mahama, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Suame lawmaker and Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC National chairman, have not received full payment of their salaries since they exited Parliament in 2005.
After a long wait, the former lawmakers received part payment of their salaries in 2018, when the Audit Service determined and fixed the principal arrears for the 2004 salaries, outstanding allowances and other benefits of the former parliamentarians.
As a result of delayed payment, the group initiated an action against the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice on December 6, 2022.
On May 31, 2024 the MOF per the Attorney General argued that the action by the plaintiff former lawmakers be dismissed on the grounds that the matter was statute-barred.
However, the Labour Court, presided over by Her Lordship Justice Ananda J. Aikins (Mrs.) in its ruling in March 2025 refused the request by the defendants.
It stated that the matter was within the 6 year period provided for in Section 4(4) of the Limitation Act and not statute-barred and allowed trial to proceed on other issues of the matter.
Sensing that the chances of the Republic succeeding in the case are slim, the Attorney General advised the parties to stay action to allow the MOF to conclude an amicable settlement process.
On May 7, 2025 the A-G reminded the MOF through the Legal Director of the payment of interest on arrears of salaries and allowances due the former MPs since 2004, but failed to take action even though the MOF admitted claims by the MPs of late payment of their entitlements.
The A-G subsequently advised MOF to settle the matter with the MPs in order to forestall potential judgment debt against the Republic explaining that their chances of succeeding in the action is slim since there was evidence that the MPs were paid their entitlements belatedly.
Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, further recommended that the MOF, as part of the settlement process, vets the claims of the plaintiff MPs to confirm actual sum due them based on a reasonable amount to be agreed upon by the parties.
Ten months after the stay of action of Suit No.12/0029/2023 and in spite of several reminders to the Chief Director and Legal Director of MOF and efforts by Law Plus, Solicitors of the plaintiffs, the MOF has allegedly not cooperated in completing the settlement process or providing any definite timeline for the payment.
The plaintiffs, per their reps on the strength of Power of Attorney duly sanctioned by the Speaker, claim there is a complete breakdown in communication between the parties.
The plaintiffs, in a complaint lodged with The Chronicle, affirmed that progress in the settlement process has broken down because there was no formal communication regarding the matter since action was stayed in March last year.
It is the apathy, contempt and disregard for the plaintiffs on the part of the MOF that the Forum of Members of Third Parliament (plaintiffs) intend to picket around the premises of the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney Generals Department and Ministry of Justice at an unannounced date to press home their demand.
The Forum of Members of the Third Parliament are represented in the pending suit in court by Francis Amoako (Nkoranza), Ernest Attuquaye (Ga South), Bekoe Dwamena (Asuogyaman) and Alex Korankye (Asante Akim South) as plaintiffs.
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The post Former MPs Mount Pressure On Government For Salary Arrears appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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