Judicial service employees across Ghana will commence an indefinite nationwide strike on Monday, January 19.

This move, which could paralyse court operations, comes after the government failed to pay eight months of salary arrears owed since last year.

The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) announced the industrial action in a formal notice to the National Labour Commission, stating that its members can no longer bear the “unbearable situation” created by the state’s failure to honour its financial commitments.

At the heart of the dispute is a 10% base pay increase for 2025, 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 says its members only started receiving the increased pay in September 2025, with a government assurance that the arrears for January to August would be paid “not later than the 2025 fiscal year.”

That promise, JUSAG says, remains unfulfilled, despite repeated engagements and a written follow-up in December 2025 seeking payment before the year’s end.

According to the strike notice, management provided written assurance on December 16, 2025, that the arrears would be settled that month, but no payment was made.

“The festive month of December was one of the most difficult moments for staff who were very expectant… only to be met with shock and disappointment,” the letter stated.

JUSAG’s National Executive Council, calling judicial staff “critical to the maintenance of law, order, and stability,” said it held an emergency meeting and resolved that the strike will continue “until our demand for payment of the eight months' salary arrears… is fully met.”