The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has declared an indefinite strike from Monday, November 2, 2026, following the government’s failure to approve its members’ 2026 salary review.
The association has directed all Judicial Service staff to stay home until its demands are met and further communication is issued by its leadership.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, October 30, JUSAG said the decision followed months of unsuccessful engagements with the government and other relevant authorities to secure approval of salary recommendations submitted by the Judicial Council.
The association is demanding approval of the recommendations by October 30 and payment of the revised salaries in November, together with arrears covering January to October 2026.
JUSAG said it began the process in December 2025 when it submitted proposals to the Judicial Council to facilitate the annual review of salaries and conditions of service in accordance with Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution and the Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2025 (C.I. 141).
The association explained that the Judicial Council subsequently completed its work and submitted its recommendations to President John Dramani Mahama for determination.
However, it said delays in securing approval from the Office of the President compelled it to send reminders and make repeated appeals to the government.
“In December 2025, JUSAG submitted a proposal to the Judicial Council to aid in its attempt to advise the President. And due to delay in the process, JUSAG sent a reminder to the Judicial Council to speed up the process,” the association said.
It added that the Judicial Council had completed its work and submitted its advice to the President, but the approval process had stalled.
JUSAG said it had made several appeals, including at its Second Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in Tamale, where the Chief of Staff assured members that their concerns would be communicated to the Office of the President for expedited approval.
The association also said its leadership raised the matter during the Chief Justice’s Staff Durbar at the Tema High Court and the recently concluded Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) Conference in Accra.
“Unfortunately, we have not gotten the needed results,” it said.
According to JUSAG, the lack of progress increased frustration among its members and prompted its National Executive Council to convene an emergency meeting, at which it resolved to give the government until October 30 to approve the recommendations.
The association said it notified the National Labour Commission (NLC) on October 23 of its intention to embark on an indefinite strike if the deadline was not met.
However, it expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission’s intervention, particularly its directive for the Ministry of Jobs, Labour and Employment Relations to convene a meeting with relevant stakeholders and submit a report by November 6.
JUSAG said the November 6 reporting deadline was beyond the October 30 ultimatum it had given the government.
It also criticised the Ministry for inviting it to a meeting without including a representative from the Office of the President, which it said has the constitutional authority to approve the salary recommendations.
“In the letter that was sent to us, we did not have an invitee from the Office of the President, which has the constitutional authority to approve the salaries,” the association said.
JUSAG further disclosed that it had sighted a letter from the Ministry of Finance on the salary review, which it claimed was prepared without its input and rejected the proposals it had submitted.
It said the developments had convinced its leadership that government was not committed to resolving the matter.
“Given the trajectory of events, we have become clear in our minds that the government is not committed to meeting the demands that we have put forward, even though our demands are matters of law,” it said.
With the October 30 deadline passing without the required approval, the association said it had exhausted its options and would proceed with the industrial action.
“By this declaration therefore, all staff of the Judicial Service are expected to stay home from Monday until the demands are met and leadership communicates to members accordingly,” it announced.
JUSAG warned that the strike would affect court proceedings and other services provided by the Judicial Service.
“For persons who have cases on Monday, we advise that you do not show up as staff will not be available to attend to your cases,” the association said.
It maintained that its members would only return to work after their demands had been met.
“We want them to return when the demands are met and they are happy and highly motivated to deliver service to the people of Ghana,” it added.
The strike is expected to disrupt court operations and other administrative activities of the Judicial Service across the country from Monday, November 2.
