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A retired Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr Valentine Kuuzune, has petitioned the Judgement Debt Commission (JDC) over the failure of the state to settle his medical bills and other accumulated claims due him. Mr Kuuzune, who retired in 2009, said the medical bills and other perks due him as a chief director amounted to GH�6,414.00 Besides, he said, he used his own money totalling $1,960, to pay for some expenses of the ministry. �I have used my own funds to save the ministry from some embarrassing situations,� he said. Approval and counter Mr Kuuzune told the JDC on Monday that he had written several letters to the Ministry of Finance on the accumulated claims. He said in his first reply received in 2013, the Ministry of Finance had directed the Controller and Accountant General�s Department (CAGD) to look into the issue and effect payment to him. Mr Kuuzune said the CAGD gave the approval for the money to be paid in 2013, and consequently directed the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to process the documents for the payment. However, he said, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection did not process the payment documents as directed, which made it impossible for him to get his money. The retired chief director said following the delay, he wrote another letter to the Ministry of Finance. He said the Ministry of Finance again gave the approval for the payment of the money in 2014, but the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection had declined to process the payment documents. Wickedness Mr Kuuzune cited lack of initiative and wickedness on the part of some officials of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as the underlying factors behind the delay in getting his claims. Saving the nation Mr Kuuzune said he decided to petition the commission instead of prosecuting the case in court because he wanted to save the nation from paying a huge judgement debt to him. He expressed the belief that it was only through the intervention of the commission that the state would release the money to him. No show The Chief Directors of the Ministry of Gender, Women and Social Protection and the CAGD, who were billed to appear before the commission on Monday to answer questions in relation to the petition, were absent. The case was, therefore, adjourned to October 20, 2014, for them to make an appearance.