The leadership of the lower court judges of Ghana, are currently locked up\u00a0 in a meeting to decide their next line of\u00a0 action over government’s failure to implement their ten percent salary increment.<\/p>\n
Citi News\u2019<\/strong> sources say the judges are likely to declare an indefinite nationwide strike today [Monday], if no consensus is\u00a0reached.<\/p>\n It will be recalled that judges and magistrates gave government a 10-day ultimatum to increase their salaries by September 30 or face their wrath.<\/p>\n Justice delivery at the courts will be severely affected, if the strike is declared.<\/p>\n Judges demand allowance for entertainment, others<\/strong><\/p>\n Senior judges in the country recently demanded a review of their entertainment allowance<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and others conditions of service.<\/p>\n Supreme Court judge, William Atuguba, who spoke on behalf of the Judges at the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana today [Wednesday], demanded that judges be given what he called an enhanced leave allowance as well as entertainment allowance, among others, to compensate for their efforts at ensuring justice in the country.<\/p>\n According to him, considering the important role judges play in the country, such a move will significantly curb the issue of corruption in the judiciary.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sheer volume of litigation, the legal issues involved in almost every case and the range of research this entails are probably unknown to the public. Working under such conditions is particularly structured against a background of poor remuneration and other working conditions\u2026 and I am glad to note that, the bench in recent times has become more proactive in seeking this legitimate welfare and engaging the executive on these issues such as delayed payments of our few entitlements.\u201d<\/p>\n Lower court judges angry over salary slash <\/strong><\/p>\n In June 2016, lower court judges issued a stern warning<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>to government to immediately\u00a0abandon a planned move to revise their conditions of service.<\/p>\n The judges who work in the magistrate and circuit courts across the country, said they were being short-changed in the proposal presented for a review of their salaries.<\/p>\n Speaking on behalf of the judges, His Honor Aboagye Tandor, said they will advise themselves if nothing is done about their concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cCertain reforms have been done with regards to our salaries without any views or recourse to us. No inputs were made to us and we saw that there were some discrepancies so our members were of the view that the purported letter that was brought should be withdrawn.We were surprised that as members of the lower bench we would have conditions reviewed even before we are notified. You cannot review that recourse, it should be withdrawn\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Marian Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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