Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the Mahama government of neglecting the welfare of public sector workers, following an indefinite nationwide strike by members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG).
He demanded that the Attorney-General urgently appear before Parliament to explain the government’s response to the industrial action.
Speaking during the presentation of Parliament’s Business Statement for next week last Friday, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the continued JUSAG strike is disrupting the country’s justice delivery system and reflects the government’s failure to address the concerns of judicial workers.
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The strike began on Monday after the government allegedly failed to approve revised conditions of service recommended by the Judicial Council, chaired by former Chief Justice Anin Yeboah.
According to the Minority Leader, although the government claims to have offered 10 months’ salary arrears to be settled in two instalments, JUSAG remains dissatisfied and has maintained its industrial action.
He argued that the government’s handling of the dispute is unacceptable, warning that the disruption of judicial services could have serious consequences for the administration of justice.
“How can a whole justice delivery system be shut down because the government does not see it as a priority?” he questioned.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the situation is not an isolated labour dispute, pointing to complaints by teachers and nurses over their working conditions and welfare.
He accused the government of failing to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the welfare of ordinary public sector workers, despite its public advocacy for reparations and justice on the international stage.
“The same thing they’ve done in the educational sector. This government doesn’t seem to care about the welfare of the ordinary worker. Teachers are complaining, nurses are complaining, and now Judicial Service staff,” he said.
He criticised what he described as a contradiction between the government’s position on reparations and its treatment of public servants in Ghana.
“We are talking about reparation in Antigua, yet at home your own domestic workers, civil servants, you can’t pay them, and they’re on strike,” he added.
The Minority Leader urged the Majority Leader to arrange for the Attorney-General to appear before Parliament and provide an update on the government’s efforts to resolve the dispute.
“Mr Speaker, the Attorney General must be programmed by the Leader of Government Business to come and urgently apprise this House. That is very critical,” he said.
Meanwhile, JUSAG says its ongoing strike will continue if the government fails to meet its revised demands.
The association says it has made concessions from its initial demands to reach an agreement with the government, but the response so far has not met its expectations.
JUSAG General Secretary Abdulai Yakubu said the association initially submitted its demands to the Presidency but revised its position after the government’s response fell short of members’ expectations.
Mr Yakubu described the revised demands as the association’s best possible compromise, warning that members would remain on strike if the government fails to accept them.