The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has urged the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to ensure expedited action on their proposal for salary reviews.

According to JUSAG, their salary reviews and other allowances ought to be incorporated into the November 2024 budget statement to Parliament for its implementation in January 2025.

The association said experiences of the 2022/2023 legal year where JUSAG declared an indefinite strike over their conditions of service should not be revisited.

Samuel Afotey Otu, the National President of JUSAG made this known during the 2024 Annual Judicial Service Outreach and Staff Durbar in Kumasi.

“My Lady, this year, JUSAG has tabled a proposal for review of salaries and related allowances to be implemented in January 2025.

“I am aware of the speed with which the Judicial Council, which you chair, referred the matter to a committee for consideration,” Mr Otu stated.

“This is a demonstration of your determination not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

“My Lady, having toured the country, we could see visibly frustrated faces of staff who are anxious and despondent about the implication of the December general elections on the salaries review,” he pointed out.

“The budget will be read in November 2024.

“Best fiscal practice requires that approvals for reviews of salaries are completed on time, to be incorporated into the budget for consideration by Parliament in November 2024 for implementation in January 2025,” he stated.

The National President of JUSAG while commending Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo and the council for pushing to ensure that the Judicial Service Regulation (CI) which will serve as a guide for their work, said it would be a positive action.

“You have made it your priority, and we trust that the process will be completed and your name will be written in gold ink on the hearts of the employees of the Judicial Service of Ghana and JUSAG as a whole,” Mr Otu stated.

It is the case of Mr Otu that, the election year comes with sensitive electoral disputes which hinge on the security of the entire nation and therefore staff want to be settled before the elections.

“The government which is mandated by the Constitution to grant final approval of our salary review should be minded of this not to unduly delay the process in a manner that may lead to unfavourable industrial action in an election year or post elections.

“The consequences are dire, and all stakeholders must expedite action to avoid this,” the JUSAG president stated.

Avoid political controversies

Mr Afotey Otu while admonishing all staff reminded them that their duty is to “the law and the judiciary.”

“Our code of conduct strictly prohibits us from engaging in political controversies as that undermines the confidence of the public in the Judiciary.

“Also, this is the time for us to stand firm and uphold the highest standard of professionalism in the discharge of our judicial duties. Let’s not give any politician the chance to soil the name of the judiciary.

“The judiciary is the last resort for the aggrieved, and we must be the citadel for the aggrieved, the weak, the strong, the marginalized, the rich and the poor, and the ordinary Ghanaian,” he said.

Re-structure of staff durbar

The President of JUSAG also observed that the current structure of the staff durbar where staff are allowed to express their grievances before the Chief Justice later joined to address them must be revised.

“My Lady, the staff durbar is an important platform, and the only avenue which allows staff to interact directly with the Honourable Chief Justice, hear directly from the Chief Justice, and also give direct feedback to the Chief Justice about issues bothering staff and the work we do.

“My Lady, despite this objective of the durbar, the structure of the event seems to be defeating the purpose of the event since staff are made to talk to themselves and later hear from the Chief Justice.

“I want to humbly use this opportunity to plead with management to consider restructuring the programme to make ample time for staff to give direct feedback to our mother, the Honourable Chief Justice so that the communication can be a proper two-way communication,” he appealed.

Embrace technology

Touching on the theme for the 2024 durbar “Building the Pillars of Justice Delivery through Leadership, Innovation and Technology,” Mr Otu said it reflects the CJ’s vision to deliver effective justice.

“My Lady, the legal year’s theme; ‘Building the Pillars of Justice Delivery through Leadership, Innovation and Technology’ reflects your vision of building the very foundation on which justice delivery develops into a full structure resilient enough to serve the needs of contemporary times, bolster the confidence of the masses we serve and secure for us a peaceful and prosperous nation.

“At the heart of transformational leadership is inspiration, empathy, people development, discipline without compromise, and motivation.

“My Lady, at the launch of the LEADing Justice Initiative, you outlined several programmes geared towards staff professional development.

“Your commitment to the paralegal training underscores your desire to develop the legal professional competence of the judicial service staff.

“We are thankful for the initiative and are waiting anxiously to take advantage of it, he said adding, “…let’s embrace ourselves for the great vision of the Honourable Lady Chief Justice in this regard.

Mr Afotey Otu also said, “The modern world is built on technology and innovation.”

“The fact that the world has been reduced to mini tech devices on our palms is a wake-up call for us to think technology beyond the tick-tocking, whatsapping, and the rest.

“The world of work is now digitalization, and digitalization now drives the world of work. In some countries, manual courts are giving ways to virtual and electronic justice delivery.
“In Ghana, we have witnessed an upscale in the e-justice project,” he acknowledged.

Staff skills upgrade

JUSAG also observed that, under the leadership of the Chief Justice the e-justice policy has been enhanced and digital skills are no longer a preserve for only the ICT staff or recorders who work with computers every day in the transcription work.

“Colleagues, you might have heard of e-filing of cases and processes. Therefore, digital skills are a must for cashiers and process clerks. If you have heard of electronic bailing systems, be prepared as a bailiff to equip yourself with digital skills.

“If you have heard of e-judgment and video conferencing; equip yourself with digital skills. If you have heard of an e-library project, be prepared to embrace yourself with digital skills as a staff of the Judicial Service library. If you have heard of filing online complaints, you must embrace yourself with digital skills as a Complaints Officer.

“If you have heard of digital archives, be prepared to equip yourself with digital skills as archivists in the judicial service.

“If you are to excel in the paralegal training, be prepared to familiarize yourself with virtual classes or training apps such as Moodle, Teams, and Zoom,” he stated.

Disciplinary actions

On behalf of the staff, the President appealed to the CJ and the Judicial Council to reinstate members who have been wrongfully dismissed.

“My Lady much as we appreciate the disciplinary measures taken by management against staff found guilty of a violation of the code of conduct, we respectfully wish to implore the Honourable Lady Chief Justice to consider the successful appeals of members who have been wrongfully dismissed or sanctioned to be reinstated or have those sanctions reversed.

“The delay in consideration of the appeal of staff has resulted in serious psychological implications for staff.

“One instance is a staff whose reinstatement was delayed, and he eventually died, probably, out of frustration,” he pointed out.

“There are a number of staff whose faith still hangs, and we wish to passionately appeal for actions to be taken on those pending appeal cases,” he noted.