Lower Court judges and magistrates in Ghana have threatened to embark on industrial action following unpaid allowances and the non-implementation of the upward review of their salaries since 2012.

Sources say the judges have had to use their own resources for official duties because they have not been paid their allowances due them since January 2017.

To that end, the Judicial Secretary (JS), Justice Alex B. Acheampong, wrote a letter to Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, demanding payment of the allowances.

A copy of the letter dated September 5, 2017 said: “We refer to our letters dated 25th April, 2017, 7th June 2017 and July 24, 2017, in respect of payment of petrol allowance due the members of the Lower Bench and payment of allowances for staff of the Service.”

It stated, “The non-payment of these approved allowances which are due the affected judges and staff is leading to agitation and any further delay in honouring these obligations could result in labour unrest.”