The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has urged the public to refrain from visiting law courts until further notice, as the association proceeds with its nationwide strike.
Abdulai Yakubu, General Secretary of JUSAG, emphasized in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM that all staff members in various law courts across the country have been instructed to abstain from work until their revised salaries and allowances are approved by the president.
JUSAG, in a statement issued on May 24, accused the government of consistently failing to approve the revised emoluments, which prompted the declaration of a nationwide strike.
“All staff of the Judiciary Service, including court registrars, court recorders, court interpreters, cashiers, and process clerks, are all expected to stay off work until the strike is called off. If you have any case to bring to the court, our advice is to forget about it because you won't find anyone at the court premises,” Abdulai Yakubu conveyed to Umaru Sanda Amadu during the interview.
The association stated that its proposals to the government regarding the implementation of the approved cost of living allowance for its members were not promptly addressed, leading to industrial action.
“In July 2022, the Government of Ghana introduced the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for all public sector workers, including Judicial Service staff, due to the adverse economic conditions faced by the country. We have endured enough. We can no longer bear it. The National Executive Council of JUSAG, in consultation with the Judicial Service Ladies Association of Ghana, Senior Staff Association (SSAJUG), Driver Association, Finance Staff Association, and all relevant stakeholders, hereby declares an indefinite strike,” JUSAG emphasized in its statement.