Courts resume work after 10-day strike

Courts in the country resumed work this morning (Thursday) after members of the Judicial Service Staff Association (JUSAG) called off their 10-day strike on Wednesday.

When the Ghana News Agency visited the courts complex on Thursday, lawyers, litigants and members of JUSAG were busily attending to their respective roles.

At the Supreme Court premises, fleets of vehicle were parked at the car park.

Mr Prince Domena Attafuah, who had his case before one of the High Courts said his case was to be called last week however he decided to go to the court to see if it has been rescheduled.

According to Mr Attafuah, the court clerks asked him to go and come back next week Wednesday for a date.

Ms Abigail Asabea, a litigant was happy JUSAG members had called off their strike.

Ms Asabea said she had been asked to come back to the court next week Tuesday for her case to take its course.

Lawyer Edward Nana Asare was happy the strike action had been called off. He said calling off the strike would rekindle the administration of justice and ensure that those litigants, who were using legal means to obtain justice have desires fulfilled.

He said those who might have fallen foul of the law or otherwise would have their day in court to obtain justice or other remedies appropriate.

“As a nation it smacks failure for us to allow such a bastion of democracy to ground to a halt just because of government’s failure to address concerns established by the constitution to ensure the smooth administration of justice in the country.

"Any such halt in the administration of justice makes litigation expensive to litigants and access to justice by suspects a mockery. The expense emanates from the fact that most schedules would have to be re-organised and served to other parties.

On Wednesday, June 1, JUSAG called off their 10-day old industrial action with immediate effect to create room for the Government’s Presidential Committee to begin deliberations with their leadership.

Mr Alex Nartey JUSAG President at a press conference in Accra to call off the strike effect from June 1, urged members across the country to resume work immediately stressing that the association has concluded on the framework with government and management in addressing their demands.

He said: “In view of the above we are inclined to call of our industrial action effective June 1 to aid government’s Presidential Committee to begin deliberation; “all JUSAG leadership must see to the implementation process of our consolidated salary”.

The leadership on May 19 declared an indefinite nationwide strike over delays in the implementation of the consolidated salaries and emoluments for their members approved by the Judicial Council as established by law.