A Fellow with the Centre for Social Justice, Dr. Theresa Mannah-Blankson says every judgment debt paid out by the State is an expenditure that could have been used for the development of the country.
She asserted that the State can ill-afford such payments when over 30% of the population are living in poverty.
She stressed that Ghana lags behind other lower-middle-income countries in several indicators, including health expenditure, under-5 mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, secondary school enrolment, and infrastructural development.
Dr. Blankson, who is also Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, was speaking at the launch of a report, put together by the Centre for Social Justice entitled; A 20-year Review of Judgment Debt Payments in Ghana: Impact, Causes & Remedies.
The report which analyzed judgment debts paid between 2000 – 2019, found that judgment debts paid as a result of contractual breaches amounted to GHC1,384.7m, those that resulted as a failure to promptly pay compensation for land acquisition by the state was GHC479.2m, whiles statutory breaches by public officials stood at GHC29.9m. An estimated GHC411.6m of awarded judgment debts, remained unpaid as at 2017.
Dr. Blankson noted that judgment debts have accrued under every government and normally arise due to negligence, blatant disregard for public procurement laws, illegal abrogation of contracts and corrupt activities by public officials in their line of duty.
Other speakers at the event were, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Chair of the CSJ Council and Theodore Albright Esq. CSJ Fellow for Governance, Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Proceedings were chaired by Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana.
Latest Stories
-
35th CIMG Awards: Full list of winners
1 hour -
The Multimedia Group wins big at CIMG Awards 2023
2 hours -
Bernard Mornah wins PNC flagbearship race
2 hours -
Video: Confusion at PNC National Executives election
3 hours -
Rapper E.L. joins King Promise as Guinness Accravaganza headliner for September 21 showdown
4 hours -
PNC Congress: Bernard Mornah leads in Greater Accra Region
4 hours -
Reject violence, divisive rhetoric, embrace peace ahead of elections – Bawumia appeals to Ghanaians
5 hours -
SEFF’s debut single ‘Father’ sets stage for bold new talent
6 hours -
Super typhoon Yagi kills four in Vietnam
6 hours -
Hollard Insurance-UENR Mentoring Day: Students urged to let hard work, integrity shine to advance career
6 hours -
2024/25 GPL: Vision FC opens campaign with draw against Berekum Chelsea
6 hours -
If Baba Yara pitch was good, Mumin clears the ball – Laryea Kingston
7 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Samartex begin title defence with draw against Dreams FC
7 hours -
Financing road construction and maintenance through a special fuel levy: A sustainable solution for Ghana’s road infrastructure
7 hours -
Ghana Celebrity Impact Awards 2024 launched to honor positive social influence
8 hours