Vice president for Imani Africa, Bright Simons, has expressed shock at a report from the Attorney General’s (AG) office alleging that a court awarded a whopping 1.273 billion Ghana Cedis to a company that should have received 14,000 Ghana Cedis.Taking to the X platform Mr Simons shared an image purportedly from the AG indicates that in December 2011, the High Court ruled in favor of NDK Financial Services Ltd, compelling the State to pay a specified sum along with an interest rate of 6.5% per month, calculated daily.

What the Attorney General of Ghana is saying here is that someone who deserved 14000 GHS was awarded 1.273 BILLION by a court of law. Someone who deserved 28000 was awarded 10.3 TRILLION by a court of law. If this is true, then the courts are BROKEN. CJ, Judicial Service, true? pic.twitter.com/NaPTlhb4fL— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) March 2, 2024

It added that the interest accrued from January 7, 2009, until the final payment, despite the State paying GHC79,000,000 by 2020, the judgment debt had soared to GHC1,273,000,000. “ SUIT No. J4/23/2014 NDK Financial Services Ltd Vrs. Ahamaan Enterprises & The Attorney-GeneralOn 21st December, 2011, the High Court granted judgment against the State for payment of sums claimed by plaintiff together with interest at the rate of 6.5% per month calculated at the close of each day and payable at the end of every month from 7th January, 2009 up to date of final payment.

“By 2020, the judgment debt had increased GHC1,273,000,000.00, even after the State had already paid GHC79,000,000.“Pursuant to an application by the A-G for an order that the judgment debt was unconscionable and that the amount paid by the State should be considered to be full satisfaction of the judgment debt, the Supreme Court in July, 2021, held that the amount outstanding to be paid was only GHC14,000,” it added.“c. Suit No. RPC/345/2007 - African Automobile Ltd Vrs. Ministry of Employment & Manpower Development & The Attorney-GeneralOn 31st July, 2009, the High Court granted judgment in favour of the plaintiff and awarded simple interest on the sum claimed. On 24th February, 2011, the Court of Appeal awarded interest at the rate of 10% compounded monthly on the sum claimed.

Following an application by the Attorney-General (A-G), the Supreme Court, in July 2021, determined that only GHC14,000 remained outstanding.

On the other hand, the High Court, on July 31, 2009, granted judgment in favor of African Automobile Ltd, awarding simple interest on the claimed sum.

The Court of Appeal, on February 24, 2011, later increased the interest rate to 10%, compounded monthly.In April 2021, the High Court issued a garnishee nisi order for GHC10,331,841,859,411.20. A subsequent challenge by the Attorney-General led to a revision of the claim to GHC3,615,826,184,388.24, confirmed by the High Court.

Dissatisfied with this outcome, the A-G initiated a new action on June 19, 2023 (SUIT No. GJ/0956/23), seeking to set aside the entire judgment against the State.

The A-G argued that the legitimate claim by the plaintiff is only GHC28,000, already paid.

“On 26th April, 2021, the High Court granted an order for garnishee nisi in the sum of GHC10,331,841,859,411.20 in favour of the plaintiff.A challenge of the order for garnishee nisi by the Attorney- General led to the plaintiff drastically revising its claim to GHC3,615,826,184,388.24 which the High Court confirmed.

"Dissatisfied, the A-G on 19th June, 2023, instituted a fresh action against the judgment creditor to set aside the entire judgment against the State - SUIT No. GJ/0956/23.It is the contention of the A-G that the plaintiff's legitimate claim was in the sum of GHC28,000 which has been paid,” it added.