Ministry of Finance authorizes 10 months' arrears for JUSAG members

The Ministry of Finance has authorized the payment of ten months of salary and allowance arrears for Judicial Service staff, following persistent industrial action by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG). In a letter signed by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the government approved the settlement of outstanding payments accumulated between January and October 2026. The move is seen as a major step toward resolving the labor dispute that has brought court activities to a standstill across the country.

The approved arrears will be disbursed to staff in two distinct installments to manage the financial commitments. The first payment, covering the period from January to May 2026, is scheduled to be processed within the month of November. The remaining arrears, spanning June to October 2026, are set to be paid in December. This structured payment plan aims to address the core financial grievances of the judicial workers who have been demanding their lawful entitlements for several months.

While the strike has caused widespread disruption to the legal system, the Chief Justice has taken measures to ensure the Supreme Court continues its operations. Despite the ongoing protest by JUSAG members, the Supreme Court has been directed to convene for its scheduled business on November 3, 2026. This directive ensures that critical constitutional and high-level legal matters are not entirely stalled by the industrial impasse affecting the broader judicial infrastructure.

Despite the government’s commitment to clearing the salary backlog, JUSAG has yet to announce whether the strike will be officially called off or suspended. The Finance Ministry's communication did not clarify if this payment plan addresses all the demands raised by the association, leaving some ambiguity regarding the total resolution of the dispute. Stakeholders in the legal sector are now waiting for a formal response from JUSAG leadership to determine when full court operations will resume nationwide.