JUSAG Strike Demands: Ghana Government Offer Addresses Under 20%

• The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) finds the government's latest offer addresses less than 20% of its demands.
• JUSAG has agreed to revised payment timelines for arrears but four key issues remain unresolved, prolonging the strike.
• The association was prompted to reconsider its stance due to the strike's severe impact on urgent public legal matters, including a critical medical case.
• JUSAG has submitted a new, final proposal to the government and key ministries, hoping for its acceptance to end the strike.

Mr. Yakubu highlighted a distressing instance where a litigant was unable to secure a necessary court attestation to travel abroad for a kidney transplant, directly due to the suspension of court operations.

The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has expressed significant dissatisfaction with the government's latest offer, stating it addresses less than 20 percent of their demands, even as they acknowledge its slight improvement over previous proposals. Abdulai Yakubu, the General Secretary of JUSAG, conveyed this assessment during an appearance on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, November 5, following a series of discussions between union representatives and the Judicial Service management.

Mr. Yakubu clarified that while the government's revised position did represent an advancement from its initial stance, a thorough review by the unions concluded that it still fell far short of their expectations. This persistent gap between JUSAG's comprehensive list of demands and the government's concessions indicates a continuing deadlock in the negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing industrial action by judicial staff.

Despite the persistent disagreement on core issues, JUSAG has shown a measure of flexibility by accepting the government's revised schedule for settling outstanding arrears, which will now be disbursed in two installments. However, four critical issues remain unresolved, forming the crux of the continued strike. A significant factor influencing JUSAG's recent strategic shift has been the profound and adverse impact of the strike on the general public, particularly those with urgent legal requirements.

Mr. Yakubu highlighted a distressing instance where a litigant was unable to secure a necessary court attestation to travel abroad for a kidney transplant, directly due to the suspension of court operations. This specific case, among others, compelled the association to reconsider its position, acknowledging the severe consequences for citizens requiring immediate judicial attention. This concern for public welfare has been instrumental in shaping JUSAG's subsequent actions to find a resolution.

In light of the government's insufficient offer and the growing public hardship, JUSAG convened a caucus to develop a definitive counter-proposal. This document, now serving as the association's final position, was crafted with the explicit goal of bringing the industrial action to an end. The revised proposal has been formally submitted to the government, with copies also distributed to key stakeholders including the Attorney-General, the Judiciary, the Office of the President, the Labour Minister, and the Ministry of Finance.

While Abdulai Yakubu refrained from disclosing the specific contents of this final proposal, the association holds a strong hope that its terms will be accepted by the government. Acceptance of this proposal is viewed as the crucial step necessary for JUSAG to officially call off the strike, thereby facilitating the full restoration of judicial services across Ghana. The ball is now in the government's court to respond to JUSAG's latest overture and work towards an amicable resolution of the protracted dispute.

Lawyers in Ghana must advise clients about potential and ongoing delays in court proceedings and legal matters due to the JUSAG strike, particularly for urgent cases requiring judicial attestations or hearings. It is crucial to monitor the resolution of negotiations between JUSAG and the government to anticipate when full judicial services will resume.

Source: Original reporting via Prince Adu-Owusu