Accra, Oct. 30, GNA – The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike, effective Monday, November 2, 2026, over what it said is the Government’s failure to approve and pay reviewed salaries and allowances for its members.
Mr Abdulai Yakubu, General Secretary of JUSAG, announced the decision at a press conference held at the Supreme Court on Friday.
He directed all Judicial Service staff not to report for work until the President approved the reviewed salaries and paid them in November, together with arrears covering January to October 2026.
“All staff of the Judicial Service are directed not to report for work from Monday, November 2, 2026, unless and until His Excellency the President complies with Article 149 and CI 141 by approving our new salaries and paying them in November 2026, together with all arrears from January to October 2026,” he said.
Mr Yakubu said security staff were to remain at their posts to safeguard the Service’s properties during the strike.
He also instructed drivers to hand over official vehicles in their custody to the Transport Department, adding that no driver should operate an official vehicle or drive any officer or judge for the duration of the strike.
Mr Yakubu further directed that no registrar should open or be compelled to open any registry or court for official business during the industrial action.
He urged staff who were pressured or threatened by Management to report to work or perform official duties during the strike to decline and immediately report such incidents to JUSAG.
“The Association would respond collectively and through lawful means to any attempt to intimidate or coerce its members,” he said.
Mr Yakubu recalled that JUSAG notified the National Labour Commission (NLC) on October 23, of its intention to embark on an indefinite strike “following the Government’s failure to approve the Judicial Council’s recommendations on the review of salaries of Judicial Service employees.”
He said the notification outlined efforts made since December 2025 to secure a salary review for 2026, but those efforts had yielded no results.
He said growing frustration among members had prompted the National Executive Council (NEC) to demand approval of the Judicial Council’s recommendations by October 30, 2026, and payment of the reviewed salaries in November, together with the outstanding arrears.
Mr Yakubu said the NEC had resolved that failure to meet the demands by November 1 would result in an indefinite strike from November 2.
He said the notification to the NLC was copied to the Ministers of Jobs, Labour and Employment, and Finance; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; the Executive Secretary to the President; and the Judicial Secretary.
He said the stakeholders were, therefore, fully aware of the Association’s concerns.
However, he criticised the Ministry responsible for employment for failing to act until October 26, when the NLC directed it to convene a meeting of the parties to resolve the matter and report back.
Mr Yakubu said the NLC had scheduled the parties to report back on November 6, four days after the strike was due to begin.
He also said the Ministry of Jobs, Labour and Employment had scheduled a meeting for November 3, after the commencement of the strike.
Mr Yakubu further criticised a proposal by the Ministry of Finance to pay the outstanding arrears in three instalments without specifying a payment timeline.
He said the proposal was made without consultation with JUSAG, which he described as the principal party representing the affected beneficiaries.
He said the Government’s handling of the matter had left the Association disappointed, adding that members had exercised patience and made several efforts to secure their legitimate entitlements.
“We have been patient, we have been reasonable, we have gone the extra mile, and our patience has been taken for granted,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Joyce Danso