The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has formally notified the National Labour Commission (NLC) of its intention to embark on industrial action over the government’s failure to pay outstanding salary arrears owed to judicial service staff.
In a letter dated January 12, 2026, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NLC, JUSAG said the action follows “the Government’s failure to honour its promise of paying the arrears in 2025.”
The association said the dispute stems from engagements with the Ministry of Finance and the government over the implementation of salaries and related allowances for judicial service employees for 2025.
According to JUSAG, an agreement was reached in line with Article 149 of the Constitution under which President John Mahama approved a 10 percent base pay increase for judicial service workers, effective January 1, 2025.
“His Excellency the President of Ghana approved a base pay increase by 10% for 2025 for Judicial Service workers effective 1st January 2025,” the letter said, noting that the adjustment was consistent with increases granted to other public sector workers.
However, JUSAG said the implementation differed from that of other public sector employees. While the base pay adjustment for related allowances was effected in September 2025, the association said the government assured that arrears covering January to August 2025 would be paid later.
“Engagements and understanding reached were that payments were to be effected not later than the 2025 fiscal year,” JUSAG stated.
The association said it wrote to the Judicial Council on December 16, 2025, requesting that the arrears be paid in December, but despite assurances from management, the payments remain outstanding.
“Unfortunately, the Government failed to honour its promise of paying the arrears in 2025,” the letter said.
JUSAG said the notice to the NLC is in line with labour laws and aimed at resolving the matter, warning that failure to address the issue could disrupt judicial services nationwide.
