The Judicial Service’s management has requested that the striking members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) end their strike.
The Service announced its plans to resolve JUSAG’s salary and allowance concerns with the organisation’s leadership, the government, and the Judicial Service management in a news statement dated May 25.
“As part of efforts to resolve the matter, Management of the Judicial Service invited the executives of the Association to apprise them of the ongoing discussions between Government and Management, regarding the review of the salaries of staff and related allowances. Unfortunately representatives of JUSAG did not honour the invitation.
“In line with Precedence however, the Ministry of Finance has agreed with the Judicial Service to meet on Wednesday 31* May 2023 for an engagement on the matter,” parts of the statement reads.
They asked the JUSAG executive board to help them work out their differences and gave their word that the issues they raised before going on strike would be resolved.
“To this end, Management of the Judicial Service is appealing to JUSAG to call off the strike action in order to participate in the above-mentioned engagement. This will ensure a timely resolution of the matter.”
On Wednesday afternoon, JUSAG officials called an emergency meeting, during which they announced the strike. The group said that the government’s May 19 deadline had passed without action on their demands for increased salaries and payment of arrears dated January 2023.
According to the group, it had previously written to President Akufo-Addo, requesting that he follow the advice of the Judicial Council and conduct a review of Judicial Service wages and benefits in accordance with Article 149 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
In addition, JUSAG voiced its displeasure about the planned elimination of the Cost of Living Allowance in December 2022, arguing that its members had already demonstrated sufficient patience.
Some people who were waiting for their cases to be called in court have voiced concern. The Ashanti Regional Branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is also concerned about the strike by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) and has urged the government to take action immediately.
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