The President of Judicial Service Staff Association (JUSAG), Samuel Afotey Otu has stated that the letters and proposals JUSAG consistently writes to the Labor Commission, among other stakeholders are always ignored.

This revelation followed their indefinite strike action where leaders of the association urged all court interpreters, cashiers, bailiffs, clerks, and the entire court staff, excluding the security staff, to abort operations until their due allowances and salaries owed from January are paid.

According to Samuel Otu, they started amplifying their voices concerning their unpaid salaries since the May Day celebration where they wrote to the Office of the President and the Labour Commission but no feedback was received from these entities. 

“JUSAG’s letters and proposals to the government on the implementation of the approved cost of living allowance for members have not been urgently attended to, that is why we gave them an ultimatum.” He told Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye.

In a statement released by JUSAG, the government was accused of consistent dishonesty in attending to the conditions of service and other emoluments the members deserve.

The Association says the time has come when it can no longer take the mistreatment meted on its members and has resorted to strike effective May 24.

“We have suffered enough. We can no longer bear it. An empty sack cannot stand upright. The National Executive Council of JUSAG, upon consultations with the Judicial Service Ladies Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Senior Staff Association (SSAJUG), Driver Association, Finance Staff Association, and all stakeholders who matter, hereby declare an indefinite strike.” The statement noted.

On May 10, 2023, JUSAG held a meeting with the National Labour Commission and other key stakeholders but representatives from the ministry of finance failed to join the meeting at that time.

The Government of Ghana introduced the Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) in July 2022 for all public sector workers including staff of the Judicial Service due to the adverse economic condition the country was and is still undergoing. According to JUSAG, per the constitution, the salaries of staff of the judicial service has to be reviewed by the President, acting on the advice of the Judicial Council, and that by convention the said review is done every two years.

“JUSAG submitted its proposal for review of salaries for 2023-2024 on 31st October 2022 to the Judicial Council for consideration in its advice to the President for determination in accordance with Article 149 and 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.”

However, the President has failed to implement the recommendation by the Judicial Council on February 2023 for the salary review.

Announcing the strike in Accra, the President of JUSAG, Samuel Afotey Otu, said all staff of Judicial Service, with the exception of Security officers, will not report to work from Thursday, May 25, 2023 unless the President heed to demands.