Editorial

JUSAG strike requires speedy resolution

The industrial action activated on Tuesday by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), enters day four today, slowing further the proverbial wheels of justice.

Yet, there seem to be no end in sight as the association has resolved not to return to work until their demand; the implementation of negotiated salary reviews is met.

Although the management of the Judicial Service has called on its staff to resume work with immediate effect, since the action has been declared illegal by the National Labour Commission, JUSAG insists it is legal.

As to whether the action is illegal or otherwise, that is not our primary concern. The important issue here is the implications of the action and the need for the parties to immediately resolve their differences.

Since Tuesday, hundreds of court users have been left stranded due to the action. The Supreme Court, high courts and circuit courts in Accra, as of the first day of the action, had almost all the court rooms locked.

The story, according to media reports is no different in the regions. Only security personnel of the Judicial Service are reporting to work to protect life and property.

The parties involved and the NLC have resorted to the issuance of press releases to justify their actions or give out orders. These have not in any way brought any solution but to aggravate the situation.

At a time that various efforts including introduction of digital devices are being made to speed up justice delivery, the industrial action will derail any progress made.

The courts coming to a standstill simply means more time would be required to deal with cases that should have been cleared during the strike days. This is not the justice delivery Ghanaians deserve.

It is therefore proper and in the national interest for JUSAG and Judicial Service management and the NLC, to quit the war of press releases and return to the table.

They should find a lasting solution to the problem and have the courts up and running again by next week instead of allowing this impasse to fester at the expense of the citizenry.

The NLC was set up because of these industrial actions and it must rise to the occasion. If the JUSAG action is illegal as NLC has said, then the necessary action must be taken to whip them in line.

The citizenry must not be made to bear the brunt of the misunderstanding. They should not be caught in a cross fire they did not contribute to igniting.

 We hope to see the impasse resolved soon and the court back to life as soon possible.

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