Judges, Magistrates refute attempt to slash salaries

Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates have registered their displeasure over a letter purporting to slash their condition of service and salaries.

According to them they have observed that certain reforms have been carried on their salaries without their consultation.

They contended that following deliberations with members of the lower bench a letter from the Presidency concerning seeking to slash their salaries and condition of service should be withdrawn.

They posit that if there are any reforms in relation to any human resource practice, members of the lower bench should be engaged, Mr Aboagye Tandoh, a representative of the Magistrates and Judges hinted after four-hour marathon meeting in Accra.

“It looks like anytime there is any advocacy for condition of service for any institution to be improved, then attention is drawn onto the lower bench either to withdraw our condition of service or restore or reduce.

We think that as judges such a thing should not be done to us.”

The judges held that as in as much as they want expeditious resolution of the problem affecting the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) “we also hope and believe that they should not meddle the lower bench in the resolution that will create more problems”.

Mr Tandoh said: “They should focus on issues affecting JUSAG and leave us out so that we will have industrial harmony within the judiciary as well as the judicial service, so that we can all be able and ready to render the service that the public expect of us.

“We will advise ourselves if government goes ahead to implement those reforms,” Mr Aboagye warned.

Source: GNA