JUSAG Strike: Wage dispute must not suspend justice for entire nation – Ahiagbah to gov't

Former National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has urged the government and the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to urgently resolve their disagreement over salary arrears and revised conditions of service to restore court operations across the country.

The JUSAG strike, which began on Monday, November 2, followed months of disagreement over the approval and implementation of revised salaries and allowances for Judicial Service staff.

The association is demanding presidential approval of the Judicial Council's recommendations on the 2026 salary review and payment of outstanding arrears covering January to October 2026.

The industrial action has disrupted operations at several courts, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Accra High Court and some District Courts.

Reacting to this, Ahiagbah cautioned that the ongoing strike is affecting access to justice, particularly for accused persons in custody, families awaiting bail decisions and individuals whose livelihoods depend on pending court cases.

In a social media post on Thursday, November 5, Ahiagbah said the continued closure of the courts was undermining the constitutional protections available to people who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

"Article 14 of our Constitution requires that anyone arrested be brought before a court within 48 hours. With the courts closed, this protection is being effectively suspended, one day at a time," he wrote.

Although the Judicial Service management and government have held engagements with JUSAG to resolve the impasse, the association has maintained that it will not suspend the strike until its demands are addressed.

The Ministry of Finance has since directed that the reviewed salary arrears be paid in two instalments, with the first covering five months expected in November and the outstanding balance in December.

However, JUSAG insists that approval of the revised conditions of service remains a requirement for ending the strike.

The former NPP spokesperson acknowledged the concerns of judicial staff but argued that their industrial action should not deprive the public of access to essential judicial services.

"Judicial staff deserve fair and timely compensation, and their concerns are legitimate. However, a wage dispute must not suspend justice for an entire nation," he stated.

He consequently called on the government and JUSAG to return to negotiations and agree on immediate measures to restore essential court services, particularly hearings involving remand prisoners and bail applications.