The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has urged the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to expedite action on their proposal for salary reviews.
JUSAG National President, Samuel Afotey Otu made this call during the 2024 Annual Judicial Service Outreach and Staff Durbar in Kumasi.
Mr. Otu emphasised the need for swift action, citing the experiences of the 2022/2023 legal year when JUSAG declared an indefinite strike over their conditions of service.
He urged that the salary reviews and allowances be incorporated into the November 2024 budget statement for implementation in January 2025.
“My Lady, this year, JUSAG has tabled a proposal for review of salaries and related allowances to be implemented in January 2025. I am aware of the speed with which the Judicial Council, which you chair, referred the matter to a committee for consideration. This is a demonstration of your determination not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
“My Lady, having toured the country, we could see visibly frustrated faces of staff who are anxious and despondent about the implication of the December general elections on the salaries review. The budget will be read in November 2024. Best fiscal practice requires that approvals for reviews of salaries are completed on time, to be incorporated into the budget for consideration by Parliament in November 2024 for implementation in January 2025,” he stated.
Mr. Otu commended Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo and the council for prioritising the Judicial Service Regulation (CI), which will serve as a guide for their work.
He also appealed for the reinstatement of members who had been wrongfully dismissed, citing the psychological implications of delayed consideration of appeals.
“You have made it your priority, and we trust that the process will be completed, and your name will be written in gold ink on the hearts of the employees of the Judicial Service of Ghana and JUSAG as a whole,” Mr Otu stated.
“My Lady much as we appreciate the disciplinary measures taken by management against staff found guilty of a violation of the code of conduct, we respectfully wish to implore the Honourable Lady Chief Justice to consider the successful appeals of members who have been wrongfully dismissed or sanctioned to be reinstated or have those sanctions reversed.”
“The delay in consideration of the appeal of staff has resulted in serious psychological implications for staff. One instance is a staff whose reinstatement was delayed, and he eventually died, probably, out of frustration,” he pointed out. There are some staff members whose faith still hangs, and we wish to passionately appeal for actions to be taken on those pending appeal cases,” he noted.
Additionally, Mr. Otu touched on the theme of the 2024 Durbar, ‘Building the Pillars of Justice Delivery through Leadership, Innovation and Technology,’ reflecting the CJ’s vision for effective justice delivery.
He emphasised the importance of embracing technology and innovation in the modern world, highlighting the e-justice project and digital skills training initiatives.
“My Lady, the legal year’s theme; ‘Building the Pillars of Justice Delivery through Leadership, Innovation and Technology’ reflects your vision of building the very foundation on which justice delivery develops into a full structure resilient enough to serve the needs of contemporary times, bolster the confidence of the masses we serve and secure for us a peaceful and prosperous nation.”
He added, “The modern world is built on technology and innovation. The fact that the world has been reduced to mini-tech devices on our palms is a wake-up call for us to think about technology beyond tiktoking, whatsapping, and the rest. The world of work is now digitalization, and digitalization now drives the world of work. In some countries, manual courts are giving ways to virtual and electronic justice delivery. In Ghana, we have witnessed an upscale in the e-justice project,” he acknowledged.
He reminded staff to adhere to their code of conduct and maintain professionalism in their duties, saying, “Our code of conduct strictly prohibits us from engaging in political controversies as that undermines the confidence of the public in the Judiciary. Also, this is the time for us to stand firm and uphold the highest standard of professionalism in the discharge of our judicial duties.”
“Let’s not give any politician the chance to soil the name of the judiciary. The judiciary is the last resort for the aggrieved, and we must be the citadel for the aggrieved, the weak, the strong, the marginalized, the rich and the poor, and the ordinary Ghanaian,” he said.
Otu also suggested revising the structure of the staff Durbar to allow for direct feedback from staff to the Chief Justice, promoting two-way communication.
“My Lady, the staff durbar is an important platform, and the only avenue which affords staff the opportunity to interact directly with the Honourable Chief Justice, hear directly from the Chief Justice, and also give direct feedback to the Chief Justice about issues bothering staff and the work we do.”
“My Lady, despite this objective of the durbar, the structure of the event seems to be defeating the purpose of the event, since staff are made to talk to themselves and later hear from the Chief Justice. I want to humbly use this opportunity to plead with Management to consider restructuring the programme to make ample time for staff to give direct feedback to our mother, the Honourable Chief Justice so that the communication can be a proper two-way communication,” he appealed.
JUSAG observed that the e-justice policy has been enhanced under the Chief Justice’s leadership, and digital skills are now essential for various roles within the Judicial Service.
“Colleagues, you might have heard of e-filing of cases and processes. Therefore, digital skills are a must for cashiers and process clerks. If you have heard of electronic bailing systems, be prepared as a bailiff to equip yourself with digital skills. If you have heard of e-judgment and video conferencing; equip yourself with digital skills.”
“If you have heard of an e-library project, be prepared to embrace yourself with digital skills as a staff of the Judicial Service library. If you have heard of filing online complaints, you must embrace yourself with digital skills as a Complaints Officer.”
“If you have heard of digital archives, be prepared to equip yourself with digital skills as archivists in the judicial service. If you are to excel in the paralegal training, be prepared to familiarise yourself with virtual classes or training apps such as Moodle, Teams, and Zoom,” he stated.
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