The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana has formally notified the National Labour Commission of its intention to embark on industrial action over the government’s failure to address concerns regarding the review of salaries and related allowances for staff of the Judicial Service.
In a letter dated 23 October 2026 and signed by General Secretary Abdulai Yakubu, the association stated that the conditions of service of Judicial Service staff, comprising judicial officers and executive officers, are governed by Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution and the Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2025.
Pursuant to these provisions, salaries and conditions of service are determined by the President of Ghana on the advice of the Judicial Council, with salaries required to be reviewed annually.
Following the expiry of the last salary review in December 2025, JUSAG wrote to the Judicial Council requesting a review of salaries for 2026. The Judicial Council concluded its work and submitted its advice to the President for determination.
Due to delays in concluding the process, the association wrote to the Judicial Council in January 2026 to expedite matters. As the delay persisted, it again reminded management in September 2026 and made several public appeals, including at the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in Tamale in August 2026, the 45th AMJG Conference in Accra in September 2026, and the Chief Justice’s Staff Durbar in Tamale in September 2026.
The association said these appeals had been met with only assurances, with no concrete step taken by the government towards approving the recommendations of the Judicial Council and paying the reviewed salaries.
It noted that other public sector colleagues had their new salaries for 2026 approved and paid in January 2026. Judicial Service staff, however, remained unpaid nearly ten months into the year, a situation that has heightened tension and dampened morale.
While organised labour is already negotiating the base pay for 2027, staff of the Judicial Service are yet to receive their reviewed base pay and allowances for 2026. The association described the prolonged delay as defeating the principles underpinning the determination of salaries under the new legal regime.
Mindful of the consequences of industrial action for justice delivery and national security, JUSAG said it had consistently prevailed upon its members to exercise restraint while working with management towards the prompt approval and payment of the reviewed salaries.
The National Executive Council of JUSAG has now resolved to demand the approval of the Judicial Council’s recommendations on the 2026 salary review by the end of October 2026, and the payment of the reviewed salaries in November 2026, together with arrears from January to October 2026.
The association further resolved that if the demands are not met by Sunday, 1 November 2026, it shall declare an indefinite strike commencing on Monday, 2 November 2026, and the strike shall remain in force until the demands are met.
The letter was copied to the Executive Secretary at the Office of the President, the Judicial Secretary, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister for Jobs, Labour and Employment Relations.
