The delivery of justice at the Accra High Court came to a grinding halt on Monday, June 2, 2025, as jurors launched an indefinite strike over eight months of unpaid allowances.
This action threatens to cripple criminal proceedings in the capital, potentially derailing dozens of ongoing felony trials and compounding the judiciary’s already strained caseload.
Jurors, who play a pivotal role in the adjudication of serious criminal offences, say the government has failed to fulfil repeated promises to settle outstanding payments despite months of engagement.
According to Joshua Alorgbey, spokesperson for the aggrieved jurors, multiple appeals to the Acting Chief Justice and the Judicial Service have yielded no results.
“We are now in the eighth month with no payment. The jurors have formally notified the Acting Chief Justice and the Judiciary Service of our intention to strike, effective today,” Mr. Alorgbey stated.
He described the situation as a blatant neglect of the jurors’ financial well-being, saying many are unable to sustain basic living expenses while fulfilling their civic obligations.
Efforts to resolve the impasse date as far back as October 2024, with a series of meetings held between jurors and judicial authorities.
However, Alorgbey said those meetings have been marred by consistent postponements and no clear commitment to a payment timeline.
“What becomes of our money? We can’t keep borrowing or leaving our jobs to sit in courtrooms without pay,” he added.
The strike is already impacting at least 15 to 20 criminal divisions at the High Court in Accra, raising fears of mounting case backlogs and justice delays.
Legal experts warn that continued inaction could lead to a judicial crisis, with the suspension of jury trials directly affecting high-stakes cases involving murder, armed robbery, rape, and other felonies.
As of now, the Judicial Service has not issued a formal statement in response to the strike.
