GBA urges JUSAG to call off strike
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has urged members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) to call-off their industrial action, while the government should expedite action in addressing their demands.
A statement signed by Mr Benson Nutsukpui, the GBA National President, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the Association had noted with great concern, the indefinite strike embarked upon by the members of JUSAG, which took effect from Friday, May 20.
“While expressing unalloyed sympathy with the cause of JUSAG, the GBA is concerned about the course of action and the probably unintended, yet grave consequences of the strike,” it said.
“We, therefore, appeal to the members of JUSAG to resume work, thereby empowering their leaders with the moral authority to conduct any negotiations and pursue their legitimate claims on their behalf.
“We are of the firm belief that as major stakeholders in the justice delivery system JUSAG will heed our plea to call off the strike.”
It said the GBA was, however, concerned that the underlying cause of this strike, implementing the consolidation of salaries of JUSAG members, had been long-standing and should have been definitely and conclusively resolved much earlier than now.
It said the Bar considered as’ unfortunate’, the recurrent situation where such labour matters were not addressed timeously, leading to avoidable industrial actions that cost the nation and its citizens in ways that may never be fully appreciated.
“It is important that the Government and the National Labour Commission attend to and address such issues with dispatch to avoid such unfortunate consequences,” it said.
The statement said: “We specifically entreat the government to immediately expedite action on all matters relating to the implementation of the consolidation of salaries of staff of the Judicial Service and for all.”
It said the Association, viewed the development as ‘unfortunate’, considering its adverse effect on the administration of justice in the country.
“The adjudication of cases nationwide has been rendered impossible and all work in our courts has virtually ground to a halt since the commencement of the strike,” it said.
“The result is that, citizens seeking justice in our courts are being deprived of the audience and adjudication that they deserve and have a right to.”
Source: GNA