We Feel Disrespected About The Way Our Allowances Are Paid- Judges, Magistrates

The president of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana, Justice Senyo Dzamefe has decried the manner in which their allowances are being paid.

He said the piecemeal approach in dealing with their allowances leaves much to be desired.

Justice Dzamefe, therefore, called on government to better their conditions of service as the current state of affairs is nothing to write home about.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Annual General Meeting of the Association in Accra on Wednesday, Justice Dzamefe, said it has now become an annual battle to get the allowances paid.

He said they are particularly concerned about the delays in payment of their allowances, a situation they described as sad.

“Year in year out, we have complained about this issue of nonpayment of allowances or delays in doing so. Like we said in 2019, payment of allowances has become one of the biggest issues for the Association.

“It is sad that judges in Ghana will have to fight every year, for their legitimate allowances to be paid. It is sad to say the least, that the leadership of the Association has to trek to Ministry of Finance and Controller and Accountant General’s Department and Audit Service for allowances to be paid. We have to fall on friends in at the seat of government to push for such allowances to be paid,” he stressed.

Citing fuel allowances as an example, Justice Dzamefe said, “as of September 2021, we still have not received any fuel allowance for the year.

“It is so frustrating to say the least, without mincing words, we are so frustrated. We feel disrespected about the way our allowances are paid. As if it is a favour being done us,” Mr Dzamefe complained.

He expressed disquiet about the fact that for many years, fuel allowances are always paid in arrears, “it has always been a refund.

“As usual, we use our own money from our taxed salaries to buy fuel, this is later refunded after so many months and taxed as if it was paid upfront. In effect, we pay double taxes for fuel. Tax on