We Will Pay Striking Lawyers � Justice Ministry

The Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General says the Ministry is working tirelessly with the Controller and Accountant General�s department to ensure that all arrears owed state attorney�s across the country are paid. Lawyers with the Attorney Generals� Department in the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions declared an indefinite strike over the non-payment of their allowances. And according to the Chief Director at the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General, Alhaji Suleman Ahmed, �We are in touch with the Controller and Accountant General�s department who are also in touch with the Bank of Ghana to release the funds. What we are supposed to do is what we have done. Ours is to process, ask for the funds, make the requisition, do the necessary processing which has been done,� he said. Although talks have been held between the government and the aggrieved lawyers, the attorneys have refused to call off their strike. The spokesperson for the State Attorneys, Michael Baafi told Citi News that they had rejected the government�s request to call off the strike and warned that the situation could worsen if the matter is not resolved immediately. �We�ve not resumed because our demands have not been met. They came and made promises, but no time was given as to when we are going to be paid, so we did not agree to the request from government,� he indicated. �The earlier we have our differences settled; I think it will help in delivery of justice in the country.�