Gov't Has Paid GHc642m In Judgement Debt - Okudzeto Ablakwa

The government, between 2001 and 2011, incurred GH�624 million as judgement debts, a Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said. Out of the amount, GH�117 million was paid in 2009, GH�276 million in 2010 and GH�231 million in 2011. While some of the payments were tortious claims resulting from molestations by members of the security agencies, others were in respect of wrongful dismissal of government employees, compensation in respect of accidents caused by some public officials, as well as wrongful demolition of private properties. Breach of contracts constituted majority of the payment made during the period under review. Eighty-six institutions and individuals benefited from such payments in 2010 alone. Among them were Balkan Energy Limited (GH�170,726), CP Construction (GH�18,012,982), African Automobile Limited (GH�2,500,000), MS Rockshell International (GH�7,140,500); Latex Foam Limited (GH�133,165), Novotec Limited (GH�573,058) and Nene Yobo Asutsuare Sugar Factory (GH�2,525,600). Dr Seth Twum, Nana Owusu Akyia Prempeh II, Kojo Boakye Kutin, Kojo Hodare-Okae and Alfred Agbesi Woyome are among the individual beneficiaries. Similar payments were also made to the National Procurement Agency for settlement agreement and Avnash Industries Limited for the confiscation of the company�s assets in 2004. The payment of all judgement debts by the government has been captured in the Auditor-General�s 2010 Report on Public Accounts submitted to Parliament by the Auditor-General.