Government to pay over $1billion as judgement debts to Ghanaians

Government to pay over $1billion as judgment debts to Ghanaians

Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Accra, July 14, Ghanadot - The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, yesterday told the Ghanaian media that the government may be required to pay over $1 billion in judgement debts to Ghanaians who have won cases against the state.

Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu disclosed this when she took her turn at the Meet-The Press Series in Accra.

But, “I had been instructed by the president to negotiate some of the “more compelling judgement debts.” she hinted.

“There are numerous judgement debts against this government and this had dated back, especially over the last eight to ten years.

"State attorneys have had to defend government on several issues bordering mainly on land ownership and claims for payments for executed contracts."

Meanwhile the Attorney-General has also hinted the prosecution of Issah Mobila, CPP Northern Regional Chairman murder case is set to resume soon.

Though three suspects have been undergoing prosecution in Tamale, Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu added that the A-G’s department could begin the prosecutions in Accra later this month.

She said the Director of Public Prosecutions has been following the issue to ensure a speedy execution.

Alhaji Issah Mobila in the wake of the 2004 general elections was invited for questioning by the police for allegedly possessing illegal weapons.

He obliged but was subsequently handed over to the military, in whose custody he died.

A pathology report conducted by Dr. Kweku Adomako Boateng of the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi revealed that Alhaji Mobila died of a collapse of his left lung, fractured ribs and severe multiple aberrations suspected to have been the result of severe beating.

Since then, the case is still pending in Ghana’s law courts.

Ghanadot