Courts at a Standstill: Judicial Service Pleads With JUSAG to End Strike as Salary Talks Drag On

Ghana's court system is facing significant disruption as the Judicial Service has made a formal appeal to members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to suspend their ongoing strike and return to their posts, even as discussions over the 2026 salary review remain unresolved.

What is happening

Management of the Judicial Service issued the appeal after JUSAG members withdrew their services, bringing operations across various courts in the country to a near halt. The strike centres on disagreements over salary adjustments for the 2026 financial year, with workers pressing for terms they consider fair and commensurate with the cost of living.

The Judicial Service is calling on staff to demonstrate patience and allow negotiations to run their course through the proper channels, rather than resorting to industrial action that affects the administration of justice. Management has indicated that talks are ongoing and has urged workers to trust the process.

The background

JUSAG represents a broad range of non-judicial staff who keep Ghana's courts functioning — from registrars and bailiffs to administrative and clerical workers. Without these staff members at their posts, court proceedings cannot be properly recorded, case files cannot be processed, and the entire machinery of justice grinds to a halt.

Ghana has seen periodic industrial action within the Judicial Service over the years, often tied to salary and conditions-of-service disputes. Workers in this sector have long argued that their remuneration does not reflect the critical role they play in upholding the rule of law. The 2026 salary review negotiations appear to have reached a point of deadlock serious enough to trigger a full withdrawal of services.

The strike comes at a particularly sensitive time, as courts across the country handle a heavy caseload, including criminal matters where delays can have serious consequences for accused persons on remand and victims awaiting justice.

Why it matters for Ghana

Every day that courts remain non-functional, justice is delayed for ordinary Ghanaians — from families pursuing civil disputes and property matters to individuals caught up in the criminal justice system. Remand prisoners, in particular, face the harshest consequences, as hearings that could determine their continued detention or release cannot proceed.

Beyond individual cases, prolonged disruption to the courts undermines public confidence in state institutions and the rule of law — a concern that carries weight in a democracy like Ghana's, where the judiciary is a critical pillar of checks and balances.

Labour experts and civil society groups have in the past called for more robust and timely salary negotiation processes within the public sector to prevent such disruptions. When workers feel unheard, industrial action becomes the last resort — and it is ultimately the public that bears the cost.

• The Judicial Service has urged JUSAG members to return to work pending further talks.
• The strike is linked to unresolved negotiations over the 2026 salary review for court staff.
• Court operations across Ghana have been disrupted, delaying justice for citizens.

As of now, it remains unclear whether JUSAG leadership has responded positively to the appeal. GH Today will continue to follow developments as negotiations progress.