Today on Newsfile, host, Samson Lardy Anyenini, and his panel will be discussing; the rejection of the terms of settlement reached between Ato Essien and the State, organized labour’s rejection of 18% pay raise in trying times, and the President’s rejection of calls to downsize his government.

In the matter of the Court’s rejection of the terms of settlement reached between state prosecutors and the founder of Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, Mr. Essien, per the proposed settlement, agreed to pay GH₵90 million in total and GH₵60 million in an agreed installment settlement with the state.

However, in court on Thursday, December 1, 2022, the presiding judge, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, who was ready with his judgment, said the state appears to have been compromised.

He said the law that the state and the accused based their agreed settlement on, does not apply to the instant case, and such settlements may make crime attractive.

In the matter of organized labour rejecting the government’s proposed 18% pay raise, this comes after negotiations between government and organised labour had hit the rocks after organised labour refused to back down from their demand for a 60% salary raise.

Eventually, they hiked their demand to 65% to reflect prevailing inflation rates.

Finally, after the much anticipated budget was read, while new taxes have been increased in an effort to generate more revenue for government, the President has failed to downsize his government as an austere measure to cut expenditure.

All these topics will be discussed on today’s show.