'Aren’t you over dramatising after you advised Akufo-Addo to give us ugly financial haircuts?' — Franklin Cudjoe confronts Kow Essuman over salary arrears threat

The founding president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has criticised Kow Abaka Essuman, former Legal Counsel to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, over his demand for outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits.

According to Mr Cudjoe, Mr Essuman was overdramatising the issue after accusing him of encouraging lawlessness by questioning the payments being demanded.

“Kow Essuman, I see you are unhappy about my jokes on the issue of your salary arrears. You even claim I am encouraging lawlessness by asking you to justify the payments. Aren’t you over dramatising the issue?” he wrote.

Mr Cudjoe said he expected Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to respond to the former presidential legal counsel.

“Frankly, I wish the Finance Minister responds to you. He will,” he added.

He also took a swipe at the Akufo-Addo administration, accusing it of mishandling investments and imposing financial losses on investors without notice.

“He is definitely not like the government you advised that pickpocketed our investments and gave us ugly financial haircuts without notice. Good luck,” Mr Cudjoe said.

The comments follow a September 8, 2026 letter from lawyers for Mr Essuman to the Finance Minister demanding payment of his outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits.

The lawyers said Mr Essuman was appointed Legal Counsel to Nana Akufo-Addo in January 2021 and later became acting Secretary to the President in October 2024, while continuing as Legal Counsel.

They said he served until January 7, 2025, when Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure ended.

According to the lawyers, Mr Essuman’s appointment entitled him to terminal benefits, including four months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service or part thereof, an installation grant equivalent to one month’s salary, and a resettlement grant equivalent to one month’s salary for each year or fraction thereof served.

They argued that the benefits, together with his outstanding salary arrears, became due at the end of his tenure.