The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG), has denied receiving ex-gratia every four years.
The Magistrates and Judges said they are dismayed by the false and malicious allegations that judges of the Superior Court receive ex-gratia.
In a press statement, the AMJG clarified that they rather receive salary arrears or back pay which has been misconstrued as ex-gratia in media discussions.
“It is this arrears of salary or back pay which is mischievously being described as ex-gratia in the press, particularly on radio, television and on social media platforms by some seasoned journalists and so-called social commentators, who never attempted to look for the truth.”
The statement which is dated June 21, 2022 explained that “these arrears of salary or back pay are paid in a lump sum or instalment – this has been the situation since 1996.”
The subject of ex-gratia became topical in the public domain when a former Council of State member, Togbe Afede XIV, returned over GH¢300,000 paid to him for serving on the Council for the period between 2017 and 2020.
According to him, he felt ‘uncomfortable’ with the extra payment for his services as a Council of State member which he described as ‘inappropriate’.
In a press statement on Monday, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State noted that he does not think his work merited the payment of such a colossal sum as ex-gratia, in addition to the salary he enjoyed from what was effectively a part-time job.
Kindly read the full statement below:
