Persons who have been seconded by their respective institutions to serve as jurors to assist the Judicial Service of Ghana resolve high profile cases at the High Court have abandoned their duties over 13 months unpaid allowances.
According to the jury, since March 2022, their allowances have been outstanding making it impossible for them to commute to and from the court.
The latest development is likely to affect most of the cases where accused persons are standing trial for murder.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, a Justice of the Accra High Court who presides at the Criminal Court ‘ 5’ made this disclosure after ruling on the Mini-trial in the Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu’s murder trial.
“This morning (today, April 18), I have been served with a letter dated April 17, 2023, with the heading ‘Notice of Absence from Jury Duties,’ Justice Marfo disclosed.
The judge said per the content of the letter, “they (Jury) are staying away from court proceedings due to non-payments of their allowances from March 2022 till now which has disabled them from funding their transportation to and from the court premises.”
Following the overruling of the mini-trial of the JB Killer’s case, the substantive matter of the JB killer’s trial is to proceed.
However, the judge said “In view of this, this court is unable to give any particular date by which the jury would be brought to the proceedings.
“Be that as it may, I will adjourn the matter to a certain date with the hope that their demands may have been met,” Justice Marfo started.
The Registrar of the Court was to inform the Forman of the JB Danquah jury panel with the date by serving a hearing notice.