The President of Judicial Service Staff Association (JUSAG), Samuel Afotey Otu has stated that the letters and proposals JUSAG consistently writes to the Labor Commission, among other stakeholders are always ignored.
This revelation followed their indefinite strike action where leaders of the association urged all court interpreters, cashiers, bailiffs, clerks, and the entire court staff, excluding the security staff, to abort operations until their due allowances and salaries owed from January are paid.
According to Samuel Otu, they started amplifying their voices concerning their unpaid salaries since the May Day celebration where they wrote to the Office of the President and the Labour Commission but no feedback was received from these entities.
“JUSAG’s letters and proposals to the government on the implementation of the approved cost of living allowance for members have not been urgently attended to, that is why we gave them an ultimatum.” He told Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye.
In a statement released by JUSAG, the government was accused of consistent dishonesty in attending to the conditions of service and other emoluments the members deserve.
The Association says the time has come when it can no longer take the mistreatment meted on its members and has resorted to strike effective May 24.
“We have suffered enough. We can no longer bear it. An empty sack cannot stand upright. The National Executive Council of JUSAG, upon consultations with the Judicial Service Ladies Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Senior Staff Association (SSAJUG), Driver Association, Finance Staff Association, and all stakeholders who matter, hereby declare an indefinite strike.” The statement noted.
On May 10, 2023, JUSAG held a meeting with the National Labour Commission and other key stakeholders but representatives from the ministry of finance failed to join the meeting at that time.
The Government of Ghana introduced the Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) in July 2022 for all public sector workers including staff of the Judicial Service due to the adverse economic condition the country was and is still undergoing. According to JUSAG, per the constitution, the salaries of staff of the judicial service has to be reviewed by the President, acting on the advice of the Judicial Council, and that by convention the said review is done every two years.
“JUSAG submitted its proposal for review of salaries for 2023-2024 on 31st October 2022 to the Judicial Council for consideration in its advice to the President for determination in accordance with Article 149 and 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.”
However, the President has failed to implement the recommendation by the Judicial Council on February 2023 for the salary review.
Announcing the strike in Accra, the President of JUSAG, Samuel Afotey Otu, said all staff of Judicial Service, with the exception of Security officers, will not report to work from Thursday, May 25, 2023 unless the President heed to demands.
Independent candidate, Kwaku Duah who bore the logo of a dove has criticized the alleged bribery scandals which erupted at the Kumawu By-elections, adding that it is a discouraging factor for eligible aspiring candidates who have no strong financial muscle.
He testified that MPs, Ministers and other political executives were actively involved in the scandalous vote buying, even on the election day, where they influenced the electorates with money, clothes and other juicy incentives to lure them into voting for the New Patriotic Party NPP) candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim.
According to Hon. Kwaku Duah, the menace of vote buying will deter willing persons from stepping forward and contesting in what is supposed to be a democratic election since they do not have the financial muscle to coerce electorates.
“To dash money in public without shame and luring people throughout the constituencies for votes is appalling. What happened yesterday is one of the saddest days in political space. It’s pathetic”- he told Omanhene Yaw Boakye.
The Independent candidate affirmed that he has passed a congratulatory message to his opponent, Ernest Yaw Anim who is the MP-elect for Kumawu wishing him well and urging him to initiate more developmental projects in the Kumawu constituency.
Concerns have also been raised by the NDC parliamentary candidate, Kwasi Amankwah that the electorates were influenced with money, gifts, among others to vote for Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim. He cited that students approached him demanding for sums of money in order to vote for him since the NPP faction had already given them some money.
Most of the citizens who spoke to Sompa News including a 60-year-old man, alleged they were wooed with notes between 10 to 50 to vote for the NPP candidate.
Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have called out the New Patriotic Party for allegedly luring the people of Kumawu with money and other goodies to secure their votes.
The NDC parliamentary candidate, Akwasi Amankwah, ‘Tom Cee’ has stated that he discovered an appalling sight during his tour in Aninya. He said he noticed a table has been set just few meters from the voting centers where money sharing was actively going on. According to him, this is a perversion of fair elections and the EC must investigate the matter with urgency.
“During my tour, I chanced on a despicable sight at Aninya. After the money sharing, the voters were instructed to vote for a particular candidate and escorted to the polls to make sure they indeed voted for that candidate.” He revealed.
He maintained that he needs peace to prevail.
“Free and fair elections is the goal. We do not need any form of intimidation. So, I have informed the police and EC agents to investigate the matter with urgency.”
On Tuesday, May 23, when the by-election was going on at Kumawu, some citizens of the constituency divulged to Sompa News that some executives from the NPP faction are dashing people money, African prints, among other souvenirs to lure them to vote for the NPP parliamentary candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim.
Speaking on Sompa FM’s Ade Akye Abia, Francis Dodovi bashed the shameful act of the people involved in the alleged vote-buying.
“NPP should be ashamed of themselves for trying to coerce voters with money, clothes, bags and rice and other goodies if the vote-buying allegation is true. If they have revived the economy and wrought many wonders like they claim they have, I guess there is no point in luring the populace with money for votes even on election day. This only goes to demonstrate how Akufo Addo and the NPP administration have failed Ghanaians. Posterity shall surely judge them.” He cried.
A 5-year-old girl has been crushed to death by a collapsed building at Ada Magazine, in the Eastern Region with her sibling seriously injured during a rainstorm.
The back of the concrete block chamber and hall room in a compound house suddenly collapsed on the two siblings; a five-year-old girl and a 7-year -old boy who were in the bedroom while their mother was cooking in the kitchen.
The mother of the children, Diana Labotey, revealed that the concrete wall crushed the head of his daughter, Kukua Esther, killing her instantly but the boy was trapped under the rubble.
He was later rescued but suffered crucial injuries.
The victims were both rushed to the Eastern Regional Hospital where Kukua Esther, the Kindergarten pupil was confirmed dead but the boy was admitted for treatment. Medical reports have confirmed that the boy is responding to treatment.
“The children were standing behind me in the kitchen but I noticed they were feeling cold and shivering so I asked them to go into the room. After 10 minutes, I heard a loud sound so I rushed into the room and noticed the back of the building had collapsed on the children. The head of the girl was gravely damaged. When we rushed them to the hospital, she was pronounced dead but the boy is still at the hospital”. The bereaved mother narrated.
The body of the deceased girl has been deposited at the morgue pending further investigation by police.
An eye witness and also a co-tenant in the same house, Amina Monica narrating the incident said the building collapsed around 3pm during a heavy rainstorm few minutes after she came out of her bathroom.
Road Minister Hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta has insisted that the ongoing massive construction of the roads were already planned for years except that the previous contractor failed to meet the timelines as projected by the Ministry of Roads.
Speaking at the parked NPP supporters rally yesterday at Kumawu, the Minister maintained that the overnight construction of the roads in the constituency was long planned even before the passing of Hon. Philip Bassoah clarifying that the wide road network will be extended to neighboring towns.
“The ongoing works were not limited to only Kumawu but also Juaben, Effiduase and Asokore which were not in the Kumawu Constituency. Are people of Juaben, Effiduase, and Asoskore part of Kumawu Constituency or are they going to take part in the selection of the next MP for Kumawu?” he asked.
Hon. Amoako Atta promised the people of Kumawu that there would be more roads construction after the Kumawu by- elections, and they should despise the propaganda carried out by the NDC that the roads would be abandoned after the Tuesday’s elections.
“Basoah’s passing is only a coincidence, it is unfortunate and regrettable, but everything will be done to honour his name posthumously,” the Minister told the media after inspecting the progress of work on the Kumawu roads.
The Minster of Agriculture, Hon. Bryan Acheampong during the rally yesterday used the opportunity to express that the assistance of the IMF will eventually lead to reduction in foods prices, and other commodities.
The Ashanti regional EC Chairman, Benjamin Bio-Banor has confirmed that the Electoral commission is ready to conduct the Kumawu by-election on Tuesday.
The by-election which is slated for Tuesday, May 23, 2023 will be conducted at 75 polling stations with about 34,790 expected voters. According to Mr. Bio-Banor, required trainings have been conducted for smooth voting process, essential logistics including ballot papers have also been provided ahead of time.
“We are fully geared for the by-elections on Tuesday. Preparations are underway to ensure a violent-free election.” He revealed to Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye on Sompa FM’s Ade Akye Abia.
The Notice of Poll published by the Electoral Commission ahead of the election indicates that there are four candidates contesting for the MP position.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim, is the number one on the ballot paper; the National Democratic Congress candidate, Kwasi Amankwa alias Tom-C, takes the second spot, while the third and fourth positions are for two independent candidates who bear the same name, Kwaku Duah.
Meanwhile Kwaku Duah, the second Independent Candidate has debunked claims that he was ushered into the fierce competition by Chairman Wontumi. In an interview today on Ade Akye Abia, the astute business man corrected that he is only a relentless individual who is qualified and meet all the EC’s requirements to contest the vacant seat.
“It is not about political affiliations. Let no one deceive you. Even the chiefs in Kumawu know and understand my capabilities.” He told Omanhene.
He also called out the Electoral Commission for dealing with him unfairly and changing his logo from a “bird” to a “hoe.”
“My logo was a sketch and it varies from the previous Kwaku Duah’s. it was not even a dove. The variation is clear. Mine is a falcon. But the new Hoe representation does not bother me much. The EC has just been unfair and biased.” He concluded.
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