The Head of Legal for the Centre for Legitimacy and Rule of Law, Richard Nii Amarh, has called on the government to urgently address the grievances of the Judicial Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to end its ongoing strike action.
He warned that the industrial action would severely disrupt the administration of justice across the country if immediate measures are not taken to resolve the dispute.
The Judicial Service of Ghana announced that JUSAG has declared an indefinite strike, effective Monday, 2 November 2026, following the government’s failure to approve proposed reviews to salaries and related allowances.
In a public notice signed by Judicial Secretary Musah Ahmed, management acknowledged the anxiety and administrative inconvenience the strike would cause litigants, legal practitioners, and court users. JUSAG has directed all staff members to abstain from work until their demands are fully met.
Speaking in an interview on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s news flagship programme, Nyankonton Mu Nsem, Mr Amarh emphasised that the courts cannot function without judicial staff, ranging from cleaners, court clerks, and registrars to interpreters and auxiliary workers.
He noted that although judges remain available, they are unable to conduct proceedings effectively without these essential personnel.
Highlighting the human rights implications, Mr Amarh expressed deep concern for individuals currently in police custody or awaiting trial.
He pointed out that suspect remands and bail applications will be stalled indefinitely, leading to prolonged detentions that breach fundamental rights, including the statutory requirement to present suspects before a court within 48 hours.
“Imagine going for an appeal; there are guidelines with appeals. You have three months for appealing, and so imagine while you made attempts to file your appeal and JUSAG is on strike, you will certainly miss the deadline and your appeal may be thrown out. If the police intend to conduct a search and need a warrant, that would be impossible because of the strike,” he stated.
Beyond the legal delays, Mr Amarh outlined the staggering financial loss the strike inflicts on the nation daily.
“We have about 500 courts across the country. Roughly, 30 cases are adjudicated by each court daily, meaning about 15,000 cases are heard per day. That creates jobs for lawyers, especially the new lawyers called to the bar. Imagine each new lawyer is to receive 400 Ghana cedis each as transportation. If you multiply that by the 15,000 cases, that is 6 million cedis lost due to the strike. In terms of court filings, the courts can lose about Ghc300,000 daily. So economically, the strike will have a serious impact on the nation,” he added.
While appealing to JUSAG to reconsider its stance in the interest of the public, Mr Amarh maintained that the blame ultimately rests with the government’s approach to labour relations.
“I cannot blame JUSAG. Over the years, it has become obvious that when government workers want increments and don’t embark on a strike, they are not taken seriously. So I would appeal to the government through the Finance Minister to take immediate action in resolving the matter. They want their arrears paid, and the government must do so. To JUSAG, we also appeal to them to consider the negative impact and rescind their decision. I am sure calling off the strike will be best, as government will certainly address their concerns,” he concluded.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana