Ghanaian judicial staff to begin indefinite strike on 2 November
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Ghanaian Chronicle and MyJoyOnline
Ghanaian judicial staff will begin an indefinite strike on 2 November to demand approval and implementation of the promised salary review and payment of arrears from January to October 2026. JUSAG accuses authorities of delaying the process and warns the action will affect hearings and judicial services, according to the Ghanaian Chronicle and MyJoyOnline.
The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has called on all judicial staff to stop work from Monday 2 November 2026 until further notice, to secure approval of the 2026 salary review, according to the Ghanaian Chronicle and MyJoyOnline. The organisation had set 30 October as the deadline for approval before announcing the strike at a press conference on Friday.
JUSAG says it submitted its proposals to the Judicial Council in December 2025 as part of the annual review of salaries and conditions of service provided for under Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution and the 2025 Judicial Service Regulations. The Council completed its review and sent its recommendations to President John Dramani Mahama, but presidential approval had still not been given, MyJoyOnline reports. JUSAG says it sent reminders and stepped up its efforts with the authorities.
The union is demanding payment of the revised salary in November, as well as arrears covering January to October 2026. It contacted the National Labour Commission, the ministers of Labour and Finance, the attorney general, the presidency and the judicial secretary on 23 October, according to the Ghanaian Chronicle. JUSAG says the commission asked the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Industrial Relations to bring the parties together and submit a report on 6 November, a deadline it considers too late in view of its ultimatum. It also criticises the ministry for not inviting a representative of the presidency.
JUSAG says it raised the issue at its four-year conference in Tamale, a staff meeting with the chief justice at the High Court in Tema and the conference of the Ghana Association of Magistrates and Judges in Accra. It also says it learned of a letter from the Ministry of Finance rejecting its proposals without consulting it. The strike is expected to disrupt hearings and administrative services across the country; the union has advised people with cases scheduled for 2 November not to attend, MyJoyOnline reports.
