Finance Ministry approves 10 months’ arrears for Judicial Service staff amid JUSAG strike

The Ministry of Finance has approved the payment of 10 months’ salary arrears owed to members of the Lower Court Bench and staff of the Judicial Service, with the outstanding payments scheduled to be made in two instalments in November and December 2026.

The approval, signed by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on November 2, provides for arrears covering January to May 2026 to be paid in November, while those covering June to October will be settled in December.

The decision comes amid an indefinite nationwide strike by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), which began on November 2 over delays in approving and implementing the association’s proposed 2026 salary review.

In the letter addressed to the Controller and Accountant-General, the Ministry said the payment arrangement was consistent with the government’s commitment to preventing salary arrears from accumulating.

“In line with Government’s resolve not to accrue arrears, approval is hereby granted for the payment of the associated arrears per the schedule below,” the letter stated.

The Ministry further recalled that President John Dramani Mahama had approved the implementation of new conditions of service for Judicial Service staff and members of the Lower Court Bench, pursuant to Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution, with effect from January 1, 2026.

The Controller and Accountant-General has been directed to give effect to the approval. Copies of the correspondence were also sent to the Chief Justice, the Deputy Minister of Finance, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, the Auditor-General, the Director of PFM-Compliance and the Judicial Secretary.

JUSAG declared the indefinite strike after months of engagements with government and relevant authorities failed to secure approval of the Judicial Council’s recommendations on the 2026 salary review.

The association said it began pursuing the review in December 2025, with the Judicial Council subsequently completing its work and submitting recommendations to the President for approval.

However, JUSAG maintained that repeated appeals and engagements had not produced the required outcome, prompting its National Executive Council to give the government until October 30 to approve the recommendations and ensure payment of the revised salaries in November, together with arrears covering January to October.

Announcing the industrial action at a press conference at the Supreme Court on October 30, General Secretary Abdulai Yakubu directed members to stay away from work until the association’s demands were met.

“All staff of the Judicial Service are directed not to report for work from Monday, November 2, 2026, unless and until His Excellency the President complies with Article 149 and CI 141 by approving our new salaries and paying them in November 2026, together with all arrears from January to October 2026,” he said.

The association also expressed dissatisfaction with an earlier proposal by the Finance Ministry to pay the outstanding arrears in three instalments without specifying a clear payment timeline.

Mr. Yakubu said the proposal was made without consultation with JUSAG, which represents the affected employees.

“We have been patient, we have been reasonable, we have gone the extra mile, and our patience has been taken for granted,” he said.

In an update issued on November 2, JUSAG disclosed that its leadership and representatives of the Senior Staff Association of the Judicial Service of Ghana (SSAJUG) had met with the Chief Justice and management of the Judicial Service to discuss the dispute.

The association described the engagement as positive, noting that management had shown commitment to working with the government to address its concerns.

“The meeting was progressive as Management showed commitment to working with the Government to meet the demands of JUSAG in order to bring the industrial action to an end. We have also sighted a revised letter from the Ministry of Finance regarding the payment of allowances,” the statement said.

JUSAG added that management had referred the outstanding issues to the Office of the President for expedited resolution.

While acknowledging the interventions, the association said it was waiting for the outcome before its National Executive Council would decide on the next steps.

It was emphatic that the industrial action had not been suspended.

“We wish to inform staff and the public that THE STRIKE IS STILL ON. When a revised and improved approval is received from the Government and satisfies our demands, we shall inform the public on the status of the strike,” the statement added.