The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has kicked off an indefinite strike today, Monday, 2 November 2026, effectively bringing the country’s justice delivery system to a halt.
JUSAG has vowed not to compromise on its demands for a salary review ahead of a meeting with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations on Monday, November 2.
JUSAG General Secretary Abdulai Yakubu said the association would honor the invitation to the meeting but would maintain its industrial action until its demands were addressed.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, October 30, he questioned the timing of the meeting invitation, arguing that the Ministry waited until the association was preparing to begin its strike before scheduling discussions.
Mr Yakubu also said key stakeholders, including the Office of the President, had not been invited to the meeting, even though it is the authority responsible for approving the salary arrangements.
He said the Executive Secretary to the President, who had also received correspondence from the National Labour Commission on the matter, was similarly not included in the invitation.
The General Secretary questioned what the parties could resolve without the participation of the relevant authorities, particularly as the Judicial Service Staff Association had yet to be informed of the specific issues to be discussed.
“We are open to every avenue for resolution. The meeting is coming on, and we will attend. But the demands have not been met, and the meeting should have been called a long time ago. As law-abiding citizens, we would honor the invitation, but we are not ready to compromise on the demands that we have put across,” he stated.
In a notice dated October 23, 2026, and addressed to the National Labour Commission, JUSAG demanded government approval of the Judicial Council’s recommendations on the 2026 salary review by the end of October.
The association is also seeking payment of the revised salaries in November, together with arrears covering January to October 2026.
JUSAG said its decision to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, November 2, followed prolonged delays in concluding the salary review process, despite repeated engagements and appeals to the Judicial Council, Judicial Service management and the government.
In a related development, the Judicial Secretary Musah Ahmed has appealed to the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to call off its planned indefinite strike scheduled to begin on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The appeal follows JUSAG’s declaration of an indefinite strike over the government’s failure to approve the proposed review of salaries and related allowances for Judicial Access Services
The association on Friday, October 30, directed all Judicial Service staff to stay away from work from Monday, November 2, until the government meets its demands.
JUSAG General Secretary Abdulai Yakubu said the government failed to meet the deadline the association set for approval of the revised conditions of service.
However, in a circular dated Saturday, October 31, the Secretary of the Judicial Service, Mr Ahmed, said management was engaged in high-level, good-faith negotiations with relevant government stakeholders to resolve the matter.
He reaffirmed management’s commitment to securing a fair, sustainable outcome that recognizes the contributions of JUSAG members.
“In view of the ongoing efforts management is making, we humbly appeal to the leadership of JUSAG and all members of staff to consider the larger national interest. We respectfully implore you to return to your posts while these discussions continue,” he said.
The Judicial Secretary’s appeal comes as efforts continue to resolve the disagreement over the proposed salary and allowance review ahead of the planned industrial action.
