The Attorney General (AG) and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has disclosed that cabinet has approved a request for the amendment of the Criminal Procedure, which would allow for plea bargaining to certain criminal offences in the country.
The Minister disclosed this when he toured the James Camps Prison in Accra as part of a working visit since becoming the AG.
He further disclosed that the draft bill will soon be put before Parliament for consideration.
According to him, if passed, it will enhance the criminal justice delivery in the country and would become a channel to decongest the various prisons.
“Amendment to the Criminal Procedure 1960 Act 30 to incorporate plea bargaining firmly into the trial of cases. By this amendment into the criminal procedure act, plea bargaining will be permissible in cases except a few that will be set out in the act.”
“I am happy to state that, Cabinet about three weeks ago has granted approval of my request for the policy and the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act to incorporate plea bargaining to be laid before Parliament.
Meanwhile, he has indicated that offences like treason, rape, genocide, robbery, kidnapping, murder, abduction and piracy and offences relating to public elections are to be excluded from the bill.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
