JUSAG News Stories

100 – DAYS IN OFFICE (10^TH JAN. 2023) UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION – 2023 PROJECTIONS
 

I once again welcome you all into the year 2023 and pray that each one of you is able to push your boundaries, realize your dreams and rediscover your inner strengths. 

On behalf of the National Executives, I am happy to announce that, today marks exactly 100 days when we took over the mantle to steer the affairs of the association. The new leadership formally assumed office on the 11^th day of October, 2022 after a brief induction ceremony at the Supreme Court of Ghana. In attendance were the Chief Justice of Ghana and some of the Justices of the Supreme Court. The executives immediately swung into action to deal with staff welfare issues. Below are some of the strides made within the 100 days and some projections for the year.

ESTABLISHMENT OF COOPERATIVE FUND (JUDICIAL SERVICE CO – OPERATIVE FUND – JUSCOFUND)

As clearly captured in my manifesto that I will save our members from the clutches of financial institutions, my executives and I have made good on that promise by forming a Co -operative Society for the Association. JUSCOFUND is 99% complete and same will be launched in January this year in Accra. The Judicial Service Cooperative Society (JUSCOFUND) is set and ready to serve its members. Membership forms will be available at the various regional secretariats. Also, arrangements are being made for regions without offices to have their own this year. Members will be duly updated on the launch.

SALARY NEGOTIATION

Salary negotiation commenced somewhere last year and leadership is doing its best to get a good deal for the benefit of all. The Judicial Council has met with the leadership of JUSAG couple of times last year to deliberate on the salary issues. Deliberations will continue this year to bring a favourable conclusion. I can assure members that they will not be kept in the dark since there will be an update whenever the need arise.

JUSAG @ 50 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

The JUSAG @50 committee was instituted last year to plan the celebration of the anniversary. Hopefully, it will be launched this year after which the program line up will be communicated on all national and regional platforms. I believe it is going to be a beautiful celebration and I encourage everyone to play their part in making it a success. 

PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING RETIREES’ BENEFITS

The new administration inherited about 126 unpaid retirees’ benefits spanning from 2019 to October 2022. However, through the initiative of the current leadership, about 45 people have been cleared off the list within a month of assumption of office. Some have also been paid this January. We intend to clear all the outstanding members by March of this year. Also, to prevent any administrative delays in the payment of retirement benefits in the future, leadership has installed software to monitor the database of membership. This software is able to generate the number of people due for retirement in real time. It therefore, gives leadership the ample time to prepare their retirement packages on time to avoid unnecessary delays.

THE JUSAG BEREAVEMENT PACKAGE

We have also introduced the bereavement package for JUSAG members. A JUSAG member who loses the parent or a spouse is entitled to GHȻ1,000.00. A member who loses the child is also entitled to GHȻ1000.00. Since the inception of this package about 18 people have benefited from it last year.

PAYMENT OF END OF SERVICE BENEFITS

It has also been resolved that when a member retires, he/she will take home one -month gross salary as an end of service benefit. However, upon a critical consideration of the cleaners, drivers, artisans and the security men, we realized that since their take home pay is meager, GHȻ2,000.00 would be paid to this category of the members whose one – month gross salary is below GHȻ2,000.00 or whichever one is higher.

PAYMENT OF GROUND RENT ON THE SESEME LAND

Again, leadership has amicably resolved a pending dispute between JUSAG and the custodians of the Seseme land concerning the payment of ground rent. This development almost cost JUSAG the right of ownership to the land. This was however averted when the negotiation team led by the President swiftly resolved the issue to avert any further delays to the Seseme project and any future litigation on the said land. The 19years outstanding ground rent is paid in full and peace has been restored on the land. It is our hope that the project will continue as started.

PART – PAYMENT OF MANDATORY ALLOWANCE

Leadership has also paid part of the mandatory allowance owed the past regional executives. Six (6) months of the money owed have been paid leaving an outstanding balance of twelve (12) months. Hopefully, the rest will be settled this year.

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

Information dissemination is highly catered for. As an ICT influencer, my team and I have revived the JUSAG website to enable easy access to all information concerning the association. Also, member participation is greatly encouraged by the use of JUSAG TV and the zoom app. for online meetings, conferences and seminars. Circulars and memos are also used to get information to the doorstep of all members. The JUSAG media team is also vibrant and ready to circulate vital information to members. We wish to continue in the same spirit this year.

JUSAG TIER THREE PENSION SCHEME

As an abandoned project, the new administration has also revived the Judicial Service Provident Fund, (Tier Three scheme). The committee is working assiduously to get everyone registered unto the scheme. Details will be communicated to all members soon.

LEGAL

The new administration has also reviewed the legal representation agreement with the JUSAG Lawyer and entered into a new one in order to save the Association from the heavy cost that was associated with the old agreement.

STAFF DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTIONS – 2023

As part of JUSAG’s developmental projects for this year, seminars, workshops and symposiums will be organized for members to cover variety of topics ranging from health, education, business opportunities, code of ethics and many more. Also, the women front will see massive transformation as programs will be unveiled to address women specific issues.

STAFF REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTEES

Finally, leadership will like to reiterate that the wellbeing of its members is well represented on all platforms. Full legal representation is available and given to any member that is confronted with any form of disciplinary action. I will like to state that, in as much as JUSAG is ready to represent our interest; we must also be ready to always comply with the code of ethics to make the work of the union more comfortable in representing every member.

Wishing the JUSAG membership a fruitful 2023.

……Sgd……                                                                                                                                       

SAMUEL AFOTEY OTU                                                 

(PRESIDENT – JUSAG)