The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is asking the government to intervene swiftly in the ongoing strike by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG). 

The Regional Chair, Kwame Owusu Sekyere, says the strike will delay court proceedings and leave litigants stranded if the government fails to intervene speedily.  

The Association declared an indefinite strike after the expiry of an ultimatum issued to the government to address demands for the approval of salary increase. 

The strike has left litigants stranded at various court complexes in the Ashanti Region including the Kumasi High Court and the Appeal Court. 

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GBA, Kwame Owusu Sekyere, says the government must find an immediate solution to ensure that judicial service staff return to work.

He explained that the absence of JUSAG will negatively affect the operations of the courts.

“The impact of this strike action is deeply felt. Government must as a matter of urgency, intervene. If JUSAG fails to resume, every court proceeding will also be delayed,” he said.

Some persons who were stranded appealed to JUSAG to rescind its decision.

“I have been here since morning but I am unable to enter the court premises. This is going to delay a lot of things for me. Today happens to be the final ruling but just look at what is happening. JUSAG must halt this strike" he said.

However, the Chairman of the Ashanti Regional JUSAG, Osei Kwabena Ntansah, insists the industrial action will continue if the government fails to heed their demands.

“Just as our national leadership indicated, we will only come back to the courtroom after the government heeds to our demands. If not, we are not returning anytime soon” he said.

On May, 24 the leadership of JUSAG announced an indefinite strike by its members.

JUSAG leaders Wednesday afternoon summoned members to an emergency meeting, ostensibly to declare the indefinite strike, after ultimatums issued to the government to address demands for the approval of salary increases and payment of arrears from January 2023 expired on May 19.