Some Magistrates and Judges say their salaries have not been reviewed since 2013
The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) has said its members will not hesitate to go on strike if government does not address their salary discrepancies.
“If the system for reviewing salaries appears to be breaking down… then our resolve not to go on strike should also break down,” Justice Victor Ofoe, President of AMJG said on Friday, 22 June 2018.
Some Magistrates and Judges have not had any salary review since 2013. The arrears of members whose salaries have been reviewed have also not been paid by government.
Even though the association has made several attempts to have the issue resolved, government has not addressed their grievances.
It will be recalled that Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo had to intervene to prevent a strike over similar issues in 2017 but the matter has not been resolved for all the members of the association.
Justice Ofoe said there have been strikes in Zambia, Tanzania and other countries and the judges and magistrates in those countries are no different from their counterparts in Ghana, hence they will not hesitate to use that option when the need arises.
“What is so special with our stomachs that if we are being cheated we should say ‘no strike’ and be going hungry. If Tanzania, Zambia can go on strike and get their result, the matter is a very simple one".
He said the President has been a lawyer and knows what judges go through, “so, we expect that solution to come as quickly as possible”.
