707 prematurely retired officers to be compensated

Accra, 12 Nov. 2004, Graphic - The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, has directed the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to pay a total of ?36.956 billion to 707 former police officers who were compulsorily retired from the Ghana Police Service between 1993 and 1994.

The directive followed a judgment in favour of the officers who filed a suit at the Accra High Court against the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney-General?s Department for retiring them prematurely after the 1992 Constitution had raised, the retirement age for public servants from 55 to 60 years.

Twenty-eight of the plaintiffs have, however, passed away since the institution of the legal action. The plaintiffs, who were serving officers in the Ghana Police Service, were prematurely retired at the age of 55, instead of 60, contrary to the 1992 Constitution.

The directive was contained in a letter dated b27 October 2004 and signed by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, addressed to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, and copied to counsel for the plaintiffs, Mrs Margaret Yaa Ntirewaah Achiampong.

It said, ?It is acknowledged that the sum is rather large. However, we hope that the plaintiffs can be convinced to agree to payment by instalment.? The letter added, ?A copy each of the entry of judgement, schedule of names of the plaintiffs and their respective entitlement are herewith forwarded for payment.? An Accra High Court, presided over by Mrs Helena Inkumsah-Abban, entered judgement to the tune of ?36.956 billion in favour of the plaintiffs after the state had agreed that the plaintiffs were prematurely retired.

The money included the award of costs of ?15 million against the defendants. Counsel for the plaintiffs, Mrs Achiampong, in an interview, said she had so far received 26 Letters of Administration from relatives of some of the deceased plaintiffs. Additionally, she explained that she had been recently approached by family members of some of the plaintiffs on the next line of action to be taken following the death of two of the plaintiffs.

Mrs Achiampong commended the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for his response to the issue and expressed the hope that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would expedite action on the payment of the money.

She said she would consult with her clients to find out whether or not they were prepared to receive their money in instalments as proposed by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Daily Graphic