Editorial: Government, JUSAG Dialogue To Safeguard Justice Delivery

The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has announced its intention to embark on an indefinite strike beginning Monday, January 19, 2026, over the non-payment of eight months’ salary arrears linked to a 10 per cent base pay increase approved for 2025.

According to the association, the President, acting in line with Article 149 of the Constitution, approved the salary adjustment to take effect from January 1, 2025. However, unlike other public sector workers, Judicial Service staff only began receiving the adjusted pay in September 2025.

JUSAG says government assured its members that the arrears covering January to August 2025 would be paid later, with subsequent engagements resulting in an understanding that the outstanding amounts would be settled by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. With that deadline missed and arrears still unpaid, the association has formally notified the National Labour Commission of its decision to strike.

The Chronicle strongly believes that the looming strike by Judicial Service staff is not just another labour dispute; it is a serious national concern that strikes at the heart of our justice delivery system. Courts do not function on the efforts of judges alone.

Clerks, registrars, bailiffs, interpreters, and administrative staff form the backbone of the judiciary, ensuring that cases are processed, records are kept, and justice is delivered efficiently. When these workers withdraw their services, the entire system grinds to a halt.

Government must, therefore, treat this matter with the urgency and sensitivity it deserves. The grievances raised by JUSAG are not new, nor are they unreasonable. By the association’s own account, Judicial Service staff exercised patience for months after receiving assurances that their arrears would be paid.

The is again of the view that failure to honour these commitments erodes trust and undermines morale within a critical arm of the state.

An indefinite strike will have far-reaching consequences. Ongoing criminal and civil cases will be stalled, remand prisoners may be left in legal limbo, and litigants—many of whom have waited years for their day in court—will face further delays. Justice delayed, as the saying goes, is justice denied.

In a country already grappling with concerns about slow judicial processes, a shutdown of court operations will only worsen public frustration and weaken confidence in the rule of law.

Beyond the immediate disruption, the situation raises broader questions about government’s approach to labour relations and constitutional obligations. Once a salary adjustment is approved and implemented—albeit belatedly—the accompanying arrears are not a favour but a debt owed. Failure to pay such arrears, especially after clear timelines have been agreed upon, sets a troubling precedent and risks triggering similar actions across other sectors.

This is why The Chronicle suggests that dialogue, not deadlock, must be the way forward. Government should urgently reopen negotiations with JUSAG, demonstrate good faith by providing a clear and credible payment plan, and, where possible, begin settling the arrears without further delay. Even if fiscal constraints exist, transparency and engagement can go a long way in preventing a total shutdown of the courts.

The justice delivery system is too vital to be held hostage by unresolved administrative failures. Protecting it requires respecting the workers who sustain it. Government must act swiftly to avert the strike, not only to fulfil its obligations to Judicial Service staff, but to uphold the rights of citizens whose access to justice now hangs in the balance.

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