The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) says more than 130 courts across the country are currently without magistrates, creating the need for urgent recruitment to support the effective administration of justice.
JUSAG President Samuel Afotey Otu has appealed to the government to expedite the recruitment process to fill the vacancies.
He made the call at the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) in Accra on Thursday. The meeting was held on the theme: “Balance Beyond the Bench: Harmonising Duty, Justice and Life.”
Mr Otu also appealed to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to review the remuneration and conditions of service of judges and magistrates and develop a policy that addresses their specific needs.
He called for the salary gap between lower court judges and judges of the Superior Courts to be reduced by improving the remuneration of those on the lower Bench.
“The salary gap between the lower Bench and Superior Court Judges should be closed a bit by upping the salaries of the lower Bench,” he said.
Mr Otu also proposed the provision of police escorts or orderlies for members of the lower Bench, arguing that judges and magistrates require similar protection.
“Judges and Magistrates do the same work, although at different levels, but need similar protection,” he added.
The JUSAG President further called on the Judiciary and government to promote a working environment that enables judicial officers and staff to perform their duties with dignity while maintaining their well-being.
“Let us, therefore, continue to build a Judicial Service where excellence at work is matched by well-being,” he said.
Mr Otu also reminded the government of JUSAG’s lawful demands relating to Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution.
“Government must act now because staff are not happy,” he said.
Concerns over attacks on judicial officers
Mr Otu also raised concerns about attacks on judges and judicial officers on social media.
He said judicial officers would continue to perform their duties despite criticism and urged the public to accord them the respect and courtesy they deserved.
According to him, the risks associated with judicial work continue to evolve, particularly with the widespread use of social media.
He noted that images, names and activities of judges, magistrates and other judicial officers could easily be shared on various platforms, potentially exposing them, their families and staff to risks that were less prevalent in the past.
Attorney-General stresses judicial independence
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, in a speech read on his behalf, said judicial office carried particular restraints that distinguished it from other forms of public service.
He said the restraints were necessary to ensure that judges and magistrates remained independent and impartial in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
Dr Ayine noted that judges and magistrates could not always respond publicly to criticism and therefore had to exercise considerable caution in their associations and public engagements.
“Balance should not be misunderstood as a retreat from duty. Rather, it is about creating the conditions that enable judicial officers to discharge that duty sustainably, effectively, and with clarity of mind that justice demands,” he said.
The Attorney-General said the Executive, the Bar and the Judiciary had distinct constitutional responsibilities, stressing that judicial independence required those boundaries to be respected.
He, however, noted that independence did not mean isolation, saying the various arms of the justice system could work together within their constitutional boundaries to improve the administration of justice.
He cited reducing avoidable delays, strengthening court infrastructure and adopting appropriate technology as areas where collaboration could improve the justice system.
Dr Ayine commended the AMJG for selecting a theme that encouraged stakeholders to look beyond judgments, courtrooms and case statistics and consider the well-being of the individuals who occupy judicial offices.
