Ashanti Region: Jurors to remain on strike despite part payment?
The jurors suspended their services last week citing the delay in the payment of their allowances.
The striking jurors in the Ashanti Region have vowed to remain on strike despite receiving part payments of their outstanding arrears.
The jurors suspended their services last week citing the delay in the payment of their allowances.
Per Article 19(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, jurors sit with Judges, especially in cases involving offenses other than high treason or treason, whose punishment is death or imprisonment for life.
In such trials, the main duty of the jurors is to establish the guilt of the accused persons by considering the facts of the case while the judges decide the matters of law.
However on November 14, the government released some funds for these part payments but according to a publication by Joyonline, the General Foreman of the group, Albert Ackah noted that once they resume their duties, the remaining amount will not be settled by the government.
According to him, however, it is only a firm commitment from the government that will get the jurors to resume their duties.
The role and composition of jurors have recently become topical with the Attorney General making a firm commitment to re-look at the jury system per a proposed amendment of the Criminal Offences(Procedure) Code, 1960.
In keeping with the above, the AG, Godfred Dame also hinted at this year’s Bar Conference of plans to use only lawyers as jurors.
This strike has seriously affected work at the Kumasi High Court forcing the sitting judge to even adjourn to December 4, the popular case involving the police inspector accused of killing his girlfriend.
