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Judicial Services Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), has dismissed claims that they are holding the country to ransom with their intended strike action; knowing that within a few days the Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on the 2012 election petition. According to them, it was coincidental. On Tuesday, August 20, JUSAG served notice that it will embark on an industrial action on August 27, if all outstanding allowances due its members are not paid by August 26. Their strike action is aimed at compelling government to pay all outstanding allowances owed JUSAG members. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is billed to give its final ruling on the ongoing 2012 election petition which is challenging the declaration of President John Mahama as the winner of the 2012 Presidential election on Thursday. In view of this, many have condemned the intended strike action indicating it is wrong timing and that they (JUSAG) are taking advantage of the situation. However, speaking in an interview Monday on �Kokrokoo� programme, President of JUSAG, Mr. Francis Brakwa, said it is wrong to create the notion that they are holding the nation to ransom and twisting the hands of government to pay them their money especially in a time the country is awaiting the verdict. �It is not true that we want to distract the final judgment or take advantage of the situation. We have been calling for this to be done for a long time and to no avail. Most of the judges are on legal vacation...We can�t wait for work to start at the various courts before going on strike�So it is just coincidental,� he indicated. News rife indicates that government has issued cheques for the payment of the arrears. However, Mr Brakwa said even though the Finance Ministry had released monies to pay the arrears,�there is one more left�. �It is left with our clothing allowance which is critical for us because from 2012, nothing has been paid...the non-payment of the subvention had caused a lot of unease in the entire workforce of the Judicial Service and that is why it is very crucial and critical that it be paid,� he added. He however indicated that JUSAG will have a meeting midday on Monday to discuss the way forward as far as their strike action is concerned. "So until we meet this afternoon I cannot say that we�ve called off the strike".