Commissioner of the Judgement Debt Commission Justice Yaw Apau has blamed the “suffering” in the country on payment of judgement debts by government.

He said most people take advantage of the system to get judgement in their favour, but little do they know such is plunging the whole nation into agony.

Justice Apau expressed these sentiments on Wednesday, April 16, when administrators of Koforidua Polytechnic appeared before the Commission.

Rector of the Polytechnic Professor Reynolds Okai disclosed that about five claimants to the 78-acre land - on which the educational institution is situated - are demanding compensation.

Prof. Okai said GH¢293,000 has already been awarded two of the claimants following court ruling.

The Sole Commissioner was not enthused about the situation.

“People are putting in compensation claims over lands that have been acquired several years ago,” Justice Apau observed. “They go to court and they get judgment and then the government pays and then they continue to pay.”

He added: “So if we now have a leaking basket, it is because of some of these loan payments. And all of us are suffering.”

He was also worried about failure of institutions to file defence in cases as such.

“And if a matter goes to court and there is no defence, it is presumed that the defendant has no defence. The court just grants judgment.”