Court users across the country have today, Thursday, 25 May 2023, been left stranded following a strike action by members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG).

In the Ashanti Regional capital of Kumasi, some users of the courts who showed up for hearings were left disappointed despite having travelled miles to access the courts.

Speaking to Class 91.3 FM’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent Elisha Adarkwah, some court users explained their plight.

“I’m from Sefwi Bekwai Western North, I came to file a case. Since I came I haven’t seen any worker here, or no one has approached me to question me. I don’t know the man here, whether he’s a security here or not, he was kind enough to tell me they are not working today.

“We need justice, that’s why we are here. Now that the court isn’t working it’s such an inconvenience. So we’ll appeal to government to do whatever it is that the court workers require to enable them come to work so they can keep operating,” a man who had come to use the court noted.

He added that: “They say they are on strike, and they cannot tell when they will resume. We were asked to keep listening to radio or TV so we can learn when they will resume. 

“Since we travelled all the way here, it’s obvious we travelled in vain, so if they can quickly address their challenges to enable them resume work that would be good.”

“We were going to do our filing, but the man says the court is not working. It has really inconvenienced us. We served someone and the person to has served us. 

“We plead with government to address their challenges, they should quickly resolve the disagreement.”

Another man said: “Government should put its house in order because now the way the governance is going it is having a toll on us.” 

JUSAG has declared an indefinite strike over their conditions of service.

JUSAG in a statement accused the government of ignoring their concerns on the implementation of the approved cost of living allowance and general working condition of their members.

JUSAG in a statement noted that “Colleagues may recall that 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.

“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 Articles 149 and 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.”

The Association says it can no longer take the mistreatment of 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, Senior Staff Association (SSAJUG), Driver Association, Finance Staff Association, and all stakeholders who matter, hereby declared an indefinite strike.”