Compensation paid to Nyarko’s family inadequate – Sole Commissioner

Mr. Justice Yaw Appau, Sole Commissioner of the Judgement Debt Commission, on Tuesday said the compensation of Ghc15,975.20 paid by the state to the family of the late Victor Adu Nyarko was inadequate.

The late Nyarko was a nurse at the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region who died in the helicopter crash in the Atiwa Forest in 2002 while accompanying some military personnel involved in a road accident to the 37 Military Hospital.

Justice Appau said the amount paid to the family in 2007 by the state as compensation was inadequate and wondered what formula was used by the Attorney General's Department in arriving at it.

The Sole Commissioner said he wondered why the family did not appeal for the upward review of the amount.

Justice Appau made these remarks at the Commission’s sitting in Accra, during which Mr. Kwadwo Awuah-Peasah, Director In-Charge of External Resource Mobilization–Bilateral at the Ministry of Finance appeared before it to present evidence of the payment to that effect.

The Sole Commissioner expressed dissatisfaction that the late Nyarko was a postgraduate nurse trained in the United Kingdom who died at a young age of 33, declaring that the amount paid to the family as at 2007 was a peanut.

Mr. Awuah-Peasah recounted that the uncle of the late Nyarko wrote to the Ghana Armed Forces to request for compensation payment for the family in 2006, but the military referred the matter to Ministry of Finance for redress.

He said the Ministry then contacted the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department for advice and recommendations.

He said the family also petitioned the Attorney General's Department, and after some discussions with them, the Department recommended that the said amount be paid to them.

The Director said the amount was paid to the late Nyarko’s family through their lawyer, Owusu-Fordjour and Company, adding that the uncle, mother and sister were also involved.

He said payment of compensation to the families of the military officers who also died in the helicopter crash was handled by the military.

Mr. Awuah-Peasah was also to present to the Sole Commissioner outstanding claims from individuals and institutions against the Ministry for services rendered to it and for compensation payment.

He, however, asked for rescheduling to enable the Ministry to prepare and come back at a later date.

Justice Appau wanted to know from the Director how the Ministry was handling the issue of threats by contractors to embark on a strike due to delays in honouring contract payments.

The Director replied that the Ministry has been pleading with them to continue their good works and that government would soon honour its part of the agreement.

The Commission rescheduled the Ministry to reappear before it on May 20.

Mr. K. K. Bentsil Entsil, Chief Valuer of the Lands Commission, was also present to give accounts of payment of outstanding claims for compensations or services rendered to the Lands Commission.

He informed the Sole Commissioner that the Lands Commission is made up of four divisions; hence, each division has to present its own records.

The Commission, therefore, asked to reappear before it on June 10.

Mr. Kofi Dometi Sokpo, Sole Commission’s Counsel assured that notices would be served on all four divisions to appear before it.

Representatives of the Attorney General’s Department and the Controller and Accountant’s General Department who were slated to appear before the Sole Commissioner failed to honour the invitation.

They were to present information on payment of outstanding claims for services rendered to them or for compensation to be paid to individuals or institutions.

However, the Commission has rescheduled their appearance to May 19 and May 21.

The Commission adjourned proceedings to today, Wednesday May 14.