A group of 134 former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) appointed under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has petitioned the Ministry of Finance over unpaid terminal benefits.
The former MMDCEs said they have not received the benefits owed to them since leaving office in October 2021 after they were not reappointed for a second term.
In a petition addressed to the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the group explained that their tenure was extended until new MMDCEs were nominated and approved.
They said they were instructed to remain in office at the beginning of the Akufo-Addo administration’s second term.
However, 134 of the MMDCEs were not renominated and left office in October 2021 without receiving their terminal benefits.
The petition, signed by Leo-Nelson Adzidogah, a former MCE for Akatsi South, said the former MMDCEs initially expected to receive their benefits together with those of their successors at the end of the second term.
“However, to our utter surprise, our successors received their terminal benefits, but we were left out,” the petition stated.
The former MMDCEs said they believe their exclusion was unfair, especially because colleagues who were renominated for a second term received benefits covering the period from January 2021 to October 2021, when both groups served.
They argued that the fact that they left office before the end of the second term should not be used as a reason to deny them benefits for the period they actually served.
The group described the situation as an oversight and appealed to the Finance Minister to consider their request and authorise the payment of their outstanding benefits.
They said they remain hopeful that the Ministry of Finance will respond positively and take steps to resolve the matter.
