Panel members boycott court

Accra, June 19, GNA - Panel members at the lower tribunals in some parts of Accra on Monday refused to attend court to press home their demand for better allowances.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency to some of the courts and tribunals showed that only the chairmen were hearing cases without their panel members.

Normally, a lower court like the Community and Circuit tribunals sit with two panel members who assist the chairman.

The situation was the same at the premises of the 28th February Road Court, Osu Community tribunal and community tribunals at the Community Centre.

Mr George Afflah Aryeetey, Acting Judicial Secretary, confirmed the story, saying that, at present, each panel member earns an allowance of 5,000 cedis per sitting, 5,000 cedis for transport and 50,000 cedis for clothing annually.

He explained that a committee was appointed to study their grievances, which recommended that the old allowances be doubled.

Mr Aryeetey said the committee's report has been sent to the President for approval and he was, therefore, surprised at the action taken by the panel members.

He said most of the panel members, who are over 65, would be ending their term of office with the Judicial Service by June 30, this year, for new members to take over.