Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has called for a stronger partnership between management and staff of the Judicial Service to improve the quality, efficiency and integrity of justice delivery in Ghana.
He said constructive collaboration between management and workers was essential to ensuring that justice was administered efficiently, fairly and with dignity.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie made the call at the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates Congress of the Senior Staff Association of the Judicial Service of Ghana (SSAJUG), held in Sunyani in the Bono Region.
The congress brought together senior staff of the Judicial Service to discuss working conditions, institutional challenges and measures to strengthen the administration of justice.
Speaking on the theme, “Trade Unionism in the Service: Pioneering Partnership with Management in Quality Justice Administration,” the Chief Justice said management and trade unions should not see each other as opposing forces.
Instead, he urged both sides to work together as partners with a shared responsibility to ensure that the justice system functions effectively.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie acknowledged that disagreements between management and staff were inevitable, particularly over conditions of service and institutional decisions.
He, however, urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue, mutual respect and constructive engagement rather than allowing disagreements to develop into hostility.
“Trade unionism and management, when properly understood and responsibly exercised, become natural partners in a single shared enterprise. And what is that enterprise? Justice. Not management, not the union, not the individual employee. It is justice,” he emphasised.
He further noted that the strength of an institution should not be measured by the absence of disagreements but by its ability to resolve differences without damaging the relationships needed for the institution to function.
“The true test of a mature institution is not the absence of disagreement, but the capacity to disagree without destroying the relationship that enables the institution to function,” he said.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie also highlighted the important role played by senior staff in the administration of justice, stressing that the work of the Judiciary extends beyond judges and lawyers.
He recognised the contributions of registrars, administrators, court clerks, interpreters, bailiffs, accountants, human resource officers, IT personnel, drivers, security officers and other support staff.
According to him, their work is critical to the effective functioning of the courts and the delivery of quality and timely justice to the public.
He added that a motivated, fairly treated and professionally committed workforce was essential to maintaining an effective justice system.
Meanwhile, National President of the Senior Staff Association of the Judicial Service of Ghana (SSAJUG), Suttah Marilyn Maureen, appealed to the Chief Justice to ensure the full implementation of the conditions of service under C.I. 141.
She also called for the conclusion of salary negotiations for 2027 before the end of the Chief Justice’s tenure.
Madam Suttah expressed concern that uncertainty surrounding decent working conditions had contributed to the departure of experienced and competent senior staff from the Judicial Service, with some leaving the country in search of better opportunities.
She further called for the refurbishment of deteriorating court facilities to provide staff with safe and conducive working environments.
The SSAJUG President also urged the authorities to operationalise newly established district courts to expand access to justice and improve the efficiency of the judicial system.
She highlighted some achievements of the association, including the establishment of a Tier-3 pension scheme in 2019 to strengthen the financial security of its members.
Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, also called for sustained collaboration among the government, the Ministry of Finance and organised labour in addressing concerns over working conditions.
He cautioned that frequent industrial actions could further worsen the economic challenges facing the country and urged workers to continue engaging the government constructively to resolve outstanding issues.
Dr Pelpuo expressed confidence that the concerns raised by workers could be addressed through continued dialogue and collaboration.
The congress has renewed calls for closer cooperation between management and staff of the Judicial Service, with stakeholders emphasising that better working conditions and stronger institutional relationships are essential to effective justice delivery.
For Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the ultimate goal of such collaboration should remain clear: ensuring that the justice system works efficiently and fairly for the Ghanaian public.
By : Rachael Djabakie