The JUSAG Health Foundation intends creating a pool of funds that would be used to support staff and their relatives, and selected members of society, who have serious health conditions for which treatment is beyond their financial abilities.

Justice Gabriel Pwamang, a Supreme Court Judge, who launched the foundation noted that, a healthy workforce is an asset to an entity and the nation as a whole.

Justice Pwamang said the World Health Organisation (WHO) data indicated that non-communicable diseases such as stroke, diabetes and lung cancer are the leading causes of death.

According to him the data further suggested that 38 million people are affected with these non-communicable diseases, stressing that, out of the 38 million people, 16 million die prematurely.

He said the prevalence of these non-communicable diseases continues to increase, notwithstanding the high cost of treating them.

Justice Pwamang noted that, the rich continue to be rich whiles the poor continue to be poorer in their bid to treat these ailments.

The Supreme Court Judge said it was therefore prudent that the needed support systems were put in place to assist persons affected by these non-communicable diseases.

He entreated members of JUSAG to stay away from alcohol, smoking and eating unhealthy diets and engage in regular exercises.

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Source: GNA

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According to the President of JUSSAG, Alex Nartey, this will improve the efficiency of its members.

“The judicial service has been able to do much in terms of staff training and retraining and development. We are looking forward to this being looked at immediately. Sometimes we look at it in terms of cost and shy away from it,” Mr. Nartey said.

Mr. Nartey also stressed the need for improved working environment for staff outside major areas like Accra and Kumasi.

“Some of the courts are in a deplorable state. It appears that most of the flashy buildings that the Judiciary has are in Accra and Kumasi. We also operate on the ground at the district level and we need to extend this infrastructure development to all the courts. It is an urgent area we are looking to.”

Though Mr. Nartey made no mention of issues with allowances, JUSSAG has threatened and resorted to industrial action over outstanding allowances in the last few years.

The Association has said its members are economically constrained as a result of government’s failure to pay the allowances.

In April 2017, JUSSAG had served notice it would resort to industrial action to claim outstanding allowances should if government fail to clear the arrears in that month.

The government held a crucial meeting with various stakeholders of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG) to resolve the issues but it is unclear what resolution were settled on.

Last seen, JUSSAG were requesting to be consulted before the nomination of the new Chief Justice.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The President of JUSSAG Alex Nartey, in an interview on Eyewitness News, said his Association’s input in the matter is not to be taken for granted, given the role of judicial staff in the work of the Chief Justice.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vzmHUxdAINvtLpjKTUabU4SHvLZPYRW1″]JUSSAG’s appeals come despite the absence of any constitutional precedent requiring that the judicial staff be consulted ahead of the nomination of a Chief Justice.

But according to Mr. Nartey, JUSSAG is one of “the major stakeholders of the judicial service, and in view of the fact that we work with the judges and in view of the fact the work of the Chief Justice is about 90 percent management and administrative, and since the workers are involved in administration and we know what it takes in managing an organization such as the judicial service, we think that our input in settling on who becomes the Chief Justice is very critical and inevitable.”

The JUSSAG President further noted that, their possible involvement in the nomination will not be out of the ordinary because “consultations, since the Chief Justice’s office came into being, have been held anytime the office needs to be filled.”

In the event JUSSAG is left out of the process, Mr. Nartey assured that, his staff would not undermine the work of the new Chief Justice “but it will be a major help to the organisation and the nation as a whole [if JUSSAG is involved].”

The position of Chief Justice is expected to become vacant n June when Ghana’s longest serving Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, retires.

Media speculation suggests that Justice Anin Yeboah, Justice Sophia Akuffo and Justice Jones Dotse are the front-runners for the position.

But Justice Anin Yeboah is essentially out of contention following his election as the Chairman of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee. As a result,  Justice Sophia Akuffo is highly tipped for the top job.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The NLC Executive Secretary, Adongo Bawa Duah, explained to Citi News that the leadership of JUSSAG did not pursue all the possible avenues at the commission with respect to their grievances.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Cwzc5zd23cGjri5Y3ANSdUlKIAIG5Rvh”]”The leaders of JUSSAG did not exhaust the procedures at the national labour commission to ensure that a permanent and enforceable decision was reached on their allowances and that is why this matter is recurring. If they had appeared before the National Labour Commission for its dispute to be adjudicated upon, then the commission will then have enforced its orders against government, but this did not happen,” Mr. Buah said.

The NLC Executive Secretary reminded that “it is the National Labour Commission which can reach a binding a decision with regards to their [JUSSAG’s] disputes with government.”

“The signing of a memorandum of understanding with government agencies does not resolve the matter permanently because they are not judicial documents,” he added.

Background

JUSSAG has served notice it would resort to a strike to claim outstanding allowances should the government fail to clear outstanding arrears this month.

In a letter signed by the JUSSAG President, Alex Nartey, and addressed to the Judicial Secretary, the Association said its members are economically constrained as a result of government’s failure to pay the allowances.

The government has however indicated its intent to sit down with the various stakeholders of the Judicial Service JUSSAG to resolve issues regarding the allowances.

Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah said the stakeholders meeting will ensure that issues regarding the payment of allowances are addressed amicably.

JUSSAG’s last strike came in April 2016, when it acted on its displeasure over delays in implementing a new salary structure; approved for them by the Judicial Council, but the association later suspended the strike after receiving assurances from Mahama government.

The association held that the government had failed to correct the anomalies that existed in their pay structure.

In October 2016, it gave the government until the end of that month to correct the perceived anomalies identified in its renegotiated pay structure or face a strike.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The upcoming meeting follows JUSSAG’s threat to embark on a strike over the non-payment of their outstanding allowances.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wK3SsBoETJuuCbXqV4CRs09bfCCtD7Fk”]In a letter signed by the JUSSAG, President Alex Nartey, and addressed to the Judicial Secretary, the Association said its members are economically constrained as a result of government’s failure to pay the allowances.

“The leadership of JUSSAG has been under severe pressure as a result of the failure to release funds for the payment of the above named allowances. Respectfully , it will be recounted that staff of the Judicial Service were assured of the implementation of the consolidated salaries with effect that once the consolidated salaries are paid, the protracted payment of benefits and allowances due staff will be a thing of the past,” a statement issued by JUSSAG said.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatious Baffour Awuah said the stakeholders meeting will ensure that issues regarding the payment of allowances are addressed amicably.

“I have said that all the stakeholders involved in this particular issue be brought to a round table discussion on Tuesday.The letter itself was not addressed to us as a Ministry. It was addressed to the Chief Justice and we were copied but that notwithstanding we still think that it will be important to invite all the stakeholders to see how best the issue can be solved amicably.”

The Service has embarked on a number of strikes to press home demands for better conditions of service.

Last year, JUSSAG gave government an ultimatum to address their concerns over their conditions of service or face their wrath.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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In a letter signed by the JUSSAG, President Alex Nartey, and addressed to the Judicial Secretary, the Association said its members are economically constrained as a result of government’s failure to pay the allowances.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KFvzdbmIsEGh0LFZhbptYRR9bnKW3Bi0″]“The leadership of JUSSAG has been under severe pressure as a result of the failure to release funds for the payment of the above named allowances. Respectfully , it will be recounted that staff of the Judicial Service were assured of the implementation of the consolidated salaries with effect that once the consolidated salaries are paid, the protracted payment of benefits and allowances due staff will be a thing of the past,” a statement issued by JUSSAG said.

“We count on government and management … to alleviate the economic stress on our members to fend off any industrial action,” it added.

JUSSAG said the delay has plunged their members into “unbearable and untold hardship” adding that members nationwide are “extremely constrained economically as a result of the delay.”

In view of the above mentioned challenges, the National Executive Council of JUSSAG on 19^th April are demanding the “payyment of all outstanding allowances be made forthwith while efforts are made to have the consolidated salaries implemented.”

JUSSAG said the failure of management of government to resolve the above on or before April 2017 shall compel it to advise themselves accordingly.

The Service has embarked on a number of strikes to press home demands for better conditions of service.

Last year, JUSSAG gave government an ultimatum to address their concerns over their conditions of service or face their wrath.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Friday, October 21 marked the expiration of an earlier ultimatum over JUSSAG’s market premium.

[contextly_sidebar id=”CipIDzU8fOWVMN1f3GaYIbY0OT1UGO3r”]However, the union is dissatisfied with some conditions in their negotiation documents and has asked the Judicial Council to rectify them with the President or they go on strike.

The National President of JUSSAG, Alex Nartey addressed the press on Friday and he contended that “Government has unilaterally reduced the figures.”

“Government has failed to correct the anomalies that existed in our pay structure and that is not acceptable and so we of JUSAG have resolved that the document is given to the Judicial Council to look at it for the anomalies to be corrected,” Mr. Nartey added.

He however softened his stance a little as he gave government the benefit of the doubt and conceded that there could have been some omissions on the part of those who worked on and submitted terms conditions of service document thus he gave government till the end of the month to ensure that the anomalies were corrected despite the earlier ultimatum.

“Obviously, Judicial Staff cannot be on wrong conditions of service so we gave timelines so that by the close of the month, the corrections will be made so there could be peace,” Mr. Nartey said.

JUSSAG’s last strike came in April when it was upset over delays in implementing a new salary structure; approved for them by the Judicial Council. The Association later suspended the strike after receiving some assurances from government.

A committee set up by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah under the office of the President, assured members of the JUSSAG that it has completed its work on proposed conditions of service of the members.

The committee was set up to review proposals on the Conditions of Service for staff under JUSSAG.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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