Samuel Afotey Otu, JUSAG President
The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has urged its members to stay away from political controversies in the buildup to the December 7 general elections, as their duty is to the Judiciary and the rule of law.
President of the Association, Samuel Afotey Otu, who made the call during the 2024 Annual Judicial Service Outreach and Staff Durbar in Kumasi, reminded them that the code of conduct of the service prohibits them from engaging in political controversies as that undermines the confidence of the public in the Judiciary.
“This is the time for us to stand firm and uphold the highest standard of professionalism in the discharge of our judicial duties. Let’s not give any politician the chance to soil the name of the judiciary.
“The judiciary is the last resort for the aggrieved, and we must be the citadel for the aggrieved, the weak, the strong, the marginalised, the rich and the poor, and the ordinary Ghanaian,” he said.
Technology
Mr. Otu, touching on the theme for the 2024 Durbar ‘Building the Pillars of Justice Delivery through Leadership, Innovation and Technology,’ said it reflects the Chief Justice’s vision to deliver effective justice as the ‘the modern world is built on technology and innovation.’
“The world of work is now digitalization, and digitalization now drives the world of work. In some countries, manual courts are giving way to virtual and electronic justice delivery. In Ghana, we have witnessed an upscale in the e-justice project,” he acknowledged.
The JUSAG President also observed that, under the leadership of the Chief Justice the e-justice policy has been enhanced and digital skills are no longer a preserve for only the ICT staff or recorders who work with computers every day in the transcription work.
Salary Reviews
Mr. Otu also called on the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to ensure expedited action on their proposal for salary reviews.
According to him, their salary reviews and other allowances ought to be incorporated into the November 2024 budget statement to Parliament for its implementation in January 2025.
The association said experiences of the 2022/2023 legal year where JUSAG declared an indefinite strike over their conditions of service should not be revisited.
Mr. Otu also used the occasion to appeal to the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council to reinstate members of the Association who have been wrongfully dismissed.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak