The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) is hopeful that the implementation of the newly passed Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2025 (C.I. 141) will bring an end to decades of uncertainty over staff conditions of service.
JUSAG President, Mr Samuel Afotey Otu, said the legislation represented a major milestone for workers of the Judicial Service, who had for more than three decades struggled to secure clearly defined conditions of service.
He made the remarks at the opening of the second Quadrennial Delegates Conference of JUSAG in Tamale.
The week-long conference is reviewing the Association’s activities over the past four years and will elect new national executives to lead the organisation for the next four years.
Mr Otu said unresolved conditions of service had historically contributed to industrial actions by Judicial Service staff, sometimes disrupting the smooth administration of justice.
According to him, successive attempts to secure conditions of service consistent with Article 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution had failed until the current administration.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for approving the proposed regulations within the first three months of his administration, which subsequently paved the way for the passage of C.I. 141.
He said the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Finance also contributed to the process by providing the necessary legal opinion and fiscal impact analysis.
Mr Otu described the passage of the regulations within the first year of President Mahama’s administration as a significant development in the history of the Judicial Service.
He expressed optimism that effective implementation of C.I. 141 would provide greater certainty and stability for staff, particularly in relation to salaries and other employment conditions.
JUSAG appeals for approval of 2026 salary review
Mr Otu, however, appealed to President Mahama to expedite the approval of the Association’s 2026 salary review proposal, which was initiated in December 2025 but was still pending.
He expressed hope that the proposal would be approved in time for members to receive their reviewed salaries and applicable arrears by September 2026.
The JUSAG President also acknowledged the contributions of successive Chief Justices and other stakeholders towards the development and passage of the new regulations.
He particularly commended Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie and Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, who chaired the Judicial Council committee responsible for the draft legislation.
Government pledges support for Judicial Service
A speech delivered on behalf of President Mahama by the Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah, assured the conference of the government’s commitment to providing the resources required for the effective functioning of the Judicial Service.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie also urged Judicial Service staff to continue contributing ideas towards improving the institution and its operations.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, called for dialogue and negotiation as the preferred means of resolving labour disputes.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining industrial harmony and encouraged continued consultation between employers and workers in addressing disagreements.
