The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has announced an indefinite strike that will begin on Monday, 2 November 2026. The action comes after the government failed to approve the proposed review of salaries and related allowances for Judicial Service staff.
JUSAG General Secretary Abdulai Yakubu told staff and the media on Friday, 30 October, that the government had missed the deadline set by the association for the approval of the revised conditions of service. He said the government’s handling of the matter showed a lack of commitment to addressing the concerns of Judicial Service workers.
“By the development, therefore, and by the resolution of the Council of JUSAG, we hereby declare an indefinite strike starting from Monday, the 2nd of November, 2026,” Yakubu announced. He also advised the public to avoid court appearances scheduled for Monday, as staff would not be available to attend to them.
JUSAG has been seeking approval for the 2026 salary review since December 2025. The association submitted its proposal to the Judicial Council that month, which completed its work and forwarded recommendations to the President for approval. However, delays in securing presidential approval forced JUSAG to send several reminders to the relevant authorities, warning that continued delays could threaten industrial harmony within the Judicial Service.
Appeals were made during the association’s Second Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Tamale, where the Chief of Staff assured members that the matter would be taken up with the Office of the President for expedited approval. Subsequent appeals during engagements involving the Chief Justice and at the recently held AMJG Conference at Labadi also failed to produce the desired outcome.
Under Article 149 and Regulation 25 of the Judicial Service Terms and Conditions of Service Regulations, 2025 (C.I. 141), the President determines the salaries and conditions of service of Judicial Service staff based on advice from the Judicial Council, with salaries reviewed annually. JUSAG’s National Executive Council held an emergency meeting in which it resolved to demand approval of the Judicial Council’s recommendations by 30 October 2026, and to have the approved salaries paid in November 2026, together with arrears covering January to October.
JUSAG formally notified the National Labour Commission on 23 October of its intention to embark on an indefinite strike if the demands were not met by the deadline. The notification was also copied to the Minister responsible for Jobs, Labour Relations and Employment, the Finance Minister, the Attorney‑General, the Executive Secretary to the Office of the President and the Judicial Secretary. Yakubu criticised the Ministry of Labour for failing to act promptly on the National Labour Commission’s directive to convene a meeting with relevant stakeholders to expedite the approval process.
Judicial Service staff will remain on strike until the government approves the salary review and pays the arrears. The strike will affect all court proceedings scheduled from 2 November onward, and parties are advised to seek alternative arrangements for their cases.
