Members of the Wa High Court jury in the Upper West region have declared an indefinite strike due to their unpaid sitting and attendance allowances by government.

They expressed their frustration at a media press briefing, stating that they have been working without pay for nearly two years, and their appeals to the government for the release of allowances have been unsuccessful.

The jury members began unfolding their strike action plans last Monday when they boycotted criminal proceedings at the Wa High Court, hoping that the government would address their concerns.

Three days after the boycott, the group, comprising about 25 members, gathered at the forecourt of the Wa High Court to declare their indefinite strike in protest of the non-payment of their 21 months' allowances.

The jury's role is critical in Ghana's legal system, particularly in criminal cases, where they serve as impartial fact-finders, community representatives, and determinants of guilt or innocence, safeguarding against potential abuse of power by the government.

The absence of the jury has led to adjournments in court proceedings, causing disappointment among lawyers and accused persons who came to defend their cases.

The principal state attorney at the Upper West office of the Attorney General Department, Saeed Abdul Shakur, expressed concern about the dire consequences of the strike on justice delivery in the region and appealed to the government to address the concerns of the jury.