JUSAG strike cripples courts
Many clients were yesterday stranded on the various court premises throughout the country as a nationwide strike declared by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) took effect.
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There was virtually no activity at most of the courts as members of JUSAG failed to show up at work.
The leadership of JUSAG last Thursday declared an indefinite nationwide strike with effect from yesterday, over delays in the implementation of the consolidated salaries and emoluments of their members.
According to JUSAG, the withdrawal of services of members will continue until all their demands are met.
Accra
Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson, reports that many litigants were stranded at the courts in Accra.
A visit by the Daily Graphic to the Law Court Complex, Supreme Court Complex and the Accra District Magistrate’s Court Complex revealed very little activity.
Some of the litigants who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed their frustration at the situation.
The security men were, however, at post to protect property at the various courts.
Bolgatanga
In the Bolgatanga municipality in the Upper East Region, Vincent Amenuveve reports that some clients who were given dates by their lawyers to report at the courts yesterday were disappointed as the gates to the court premises were locked.
Although there were two official vehicles parked in the courtyard, the court premises were deserted with only one security man on duty.
One of the clients, Mr Albert Achana, expressed regret at the situation and said "at least there should have been one official at post to give us another date to report because we have incurred some expenses as some of our lawyers travelled from Accra to attend to us".
Cape Coast
Judicial Service workers in Cape Coast strictly adhered to the directive from the association to embark on the strike, leaving the Judicial Service Complex in Cape Coast under lock, reports Shirley Asiedu-Addo.
There was nobody at the complex except a few men who were seen working on parts of the deteriorating edifice.
The National Vice-President of JUSAG, who is also a Registrar at a Circuit Court in Cape Coast, Ms Josephine Ehwireng, said the association was happy about the adherence of its members to the strike directive.
Tamale
Zadok Kwame Gyesi reports that members of JUSAG in Tamale were not left out of the nationwide industrial action declared by the leadership of the association.
At the Tamale High Court Complex, for instance, the main entrance to the premises was locked. The court premises were quiet with the usual human and vehicular traffic absent.
Sunyani
According to Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, there was no work at the Sunyani High Court and other lower courts in Sunyani yesterday, following the strike declared by the leadership of JUSAG.
At about 10 a.m. when the Daily Graphic visited the High Court premises, there was no worker except a security man, Adam Sadique.
"Nobody has been here since morning due to the strike, " he stated.
He explained that some litigants who did not know about the JUSAG members’ strike came to the court in the morning but were disappointed.
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One such lawyer, Mr Simon Gaga, told the Daily Graphic that "the courts are not sitting because of the strike".
Kumasi
Litigants, relatives of accused persons and some lawyers were stranded on the various court premises in the Kumasi metropolis, following the indefinite strike declared by members of JUSAG, report Donald Ato Dapatem & Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor.
A visit to the various courts showed that the gates to the courts had been locked and the premises were empty.
As usual, some of the people who went to the court as early as 7 a.m. were surprised when they were informed by some security officers on the premises, especially the Appeals Court and the Courts Complex, both at Adum, that the staff of the courts were on strike.
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At the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Circuit Court which is about 20 metres from the seat of the KMA, the notice board had been lowered and placed in front of the door to the courtroom, while the Asokwa Magistrate’s Court premises were deserted.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Ms Rebecca Ntiamoah-Baidoo, who had travelled from Tamale, said she was at the court around 8 a.m. to meet her lawyer and later mount the witness box to be cross-examined.
Mr Michael Dwomoh Appiah told the Daily Graphic that he was at the court for a hearing on a land case that had dragged for over four years and wondered when the strike would be over for the courts to start operating.