The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, January 19, citing unpaid salary arrears as the primary reason.

The industrial action, which could disrupt court operations across the country, follows the government’s failure to pay eight months of salaries owed to judicial employees since 2025.

In a formal notice to the National Labour Commission, JUSAG described the situation as “unbearable” and said its members can no longer tolerate the state’s repeated failure to honour financial commitments.

Central to the dispute is a 10% base pay increase approved by the President for all public sector workers, including judicial staff, to take effect from January 1, 2025. While other sectors received the adjustment promptly, JUSAG members only began receiving the increased pay in September 2025. Government assurances that the arrears for January to August would be paid by the end of 2025 remain unfulfilled.

The strike notice highlighted that management had provided written confirmation on December 16, 2025, promising that the arrears would be settled that month, but no payment was made. JUSAG said the delay caused significant hardship, especially during the festive season.

The association’s National Executive Council emphasised the critical role of judicial staff in maintaining law, order, and stability, adding that the strike will continue “until our demand for payment of the eight months’ salary arrears… is fully met.”