Legal proceedings at the High Court in Kumasi have been disrupted as jurors across the Ashanti Region have initiated a strike due to unpaid allowances.
This strike has resulted in a temporary suspension of several criminal cases, including significant ones such as eight cases of sexual assault and murder, as well as the murder trial involving Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s Akyempimhene.
This recent strike marks the second time jurors have ceased court activities in protest of delayed allowance payments. Previously, in November 2023, jurors halted proceedings for several weeks due to similar issues.
Chief Justice Gertrude Tokornoo previously intervened during the November strike, promising to expedite the payment of outstanding allowances.
Despite assurances made then and promises of prompt payment, jurors now report that allowances dating from August 2023 to May 2024 remain unpaid. They emphasize that this financial strain is significantly impacting their daily lives.
Jurors are urging the government to fulfill its obligations promptly, stressing the importance of receiving their due allowances without further delay.
