By: Daniel Yao Akpabli | ignewss – Ho, Ghana
A group of 134 former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who served during the first term of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have petitioned the Ministry of Finance over terminal benefits they say remain outstanding.
In a letter dated September 2, 2026 and addressed to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the former MMDCEs appealed for the payment of benefits they believe are due to them following their exit from office in 2021.
The petition was signed by Leo-Nelson Adzidogah, former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Akatsi South, on behalf of the affected officials.
According to the petitioners, first-term MMDCEs were asked to remain in office at the beginning of the second term of the Akufo-Addo administration pending the nomination and appointment of their successors, but when new nominations were made in October 2021, the group said 134 serving MMDCEs were not renominated and subsequently left office.
The former officials contend that despite having pursued their terminal benefits after leaving office, they have yet to receive payment.
They said they initially expected their benefits to be settled alongside those of MMDCEs who were renominated and served through the second term.
However, they said their successors have since received their terminal benefits while their own claims remain unresolved.
A major issue raised in the petition concerns the period between January and October 2021.
The former MMDCEs argue that colleagues who were renominated for a second term received benefits covering that period, even though both groups served during the same period before the new appointments were made.
“It is therefore unfair to leave us out while our colleagues who worked with us during the said period were paid,” the petition stated.
The group maintained that leaving office before the end of the second term should not be used as a basis to deny them benefits arising from services they had already rendered.
They described the situation as an oversight and appealed to the Finance Minister to review their claims and authorise payment.
The petitioners also expressed concern that their continued service during the transition period had not been adequately recognised in the settlement of their terminal benefits.
They therefore urged the Ministry of Finance to give the matter consideration and take steps towards resolving the outstanding claims.
The petition was also copied to the Deputy Minister and Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance. As of the reports available on the matter, no response from the Ministry of Finance had been included.
The demand revives a dispute over post-service benefits for the former local government appointees, several years after they left office.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com