No superior court judge is or has been paid ex gratia every four years, according to the Association of Magistrate and Judges Ghana (AMJG).
In a statement, the group stated that reports that judges being paid ex gratia are false and should be ignored.
"The association would want to emphasise absolutely that no superior court judge is or has ever been paid ex gratia every four years," according to a statement released on Tuesday, June 21
Every four years, judges of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court are said to get ex gratia.
"The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) has followed the discussions on the payment of Ex-Gratia to some Article 71 office holders and has noted with dismay the false and malicious allegation that judges of the Superior Courts (Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court Judges) are paid ex-gratia at the end of every four (4) years," according to the association.
"The AMJG would want to say categorically that the claim is incorrect and without merit," he stated.
MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (AMJG) PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGATION THAT SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES (i.e. SUPREME COURT, COURT OF APPEAL, AND HIGH COURT JUDGES) RECEIVE EX- GRATIA PAYMENT EVERY FOUR (4) YEARS
The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) has been following the debate over the payment of Ex-Gratia to some Article 71 office holders with dismay, and has observed the erroneous and malicious accusation that judges of the Superior Courts, i.e.
Judges on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court are paid ex-gratia every four (4) years. The AMJG would like to say categorically and unequivocally that the claim is untrue and without merit.
The Association would like to clarify the following points:
a. That the salaries of Superior Court Judges (Supreme Court Judges, Court of Appeal Judges, and High Court Judges) are set by His Excellency the President once every four (4) years, based on the recommendations of a Committee constituted by the President under Article 71(1) of the Constitution 1992.
b. That if the remuneration is increased as a result of the Committee's recommendations, the judges be given salary arrears, sometimes known as back pay, resulting from the salary increase's back-dating.
c. Salary or back pay arrears are paid in lump sum or instalments as appropriate. Since 1996, this has been the case.
d) It is this arrears of salary or back pay that is being mischievously referred to as ex-gratia in the press, notably on radio, television, and social media platforms, by some seasoned journalists and so-called social commentators who have never sought to investigate the facts.
That the Association wishes to say unequivocally that no Superior Court Judge is or has ever been paid ex-gratia every four years, as has been inaccurately reported in the media.
This 21st day of June 2022, in Accra, Ghana.