Jurors of the High Court in Accra have initiated a strike action to protest their unpaid allowances and to seek better treatment from the state.

The strike, in effect since October 26, has resulted in the suspension of several court cases, including the trial of the 14 individuals accused in the death of Major Maxwell Mahama.

The jurors are currently owed more than eight months' worth of allowances. This is not the first time such action has been taken, as jurors in Accra staged a similar strike in April 2023 for the same reasons. In addition to overdue allowances, the jurors are also requesting increased state protection, considering the risks associated with their roles.

A dissatisfied juror, speaking to the media, he lamented the mistreatment they endure from the state.

The juror accused the Chief Justice and the lawyers they collaborate with of a lack of good faith, asserting that their concerns are not being taken seriously.

He stated, "We risk our lives to do this work for the entire year, and we have not been given anything even to aid our transportation. And we have tried to talk to the Chief Justice and the lawyers that we work with, but they don’t take us seriously. And all that they say is that we are not supposed to strike, but we are not on strike. The fact is, we don’t have money to use as transportation to come to court, and that is the truth."

Furthermore, the juror accused the government of reneging on its promise to pay their allowances promptly. He pointed out that the agreed-upon payment amounts were never disputed, but the government has failed to honor its commitment.

"They cannot even stand by their own decision and pay us," the juror concluded. "That is not the agreement we signed for."