Private legal practitioner Kofi Bekai has urged the government to allocate sufficient resources to the Justice for All Programme or establish new initiatives to address the wrongful conviction of individuals.
Citing the case of Yaw Asante Agyekum, a mechanic wrongfully convicted alongside notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi, the lawyer highlighted that numerous individuals are on remand or serving sentences for crimes they did not commit.
In an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said, “This is a critical issue that requires attention. The Justice for All Programme was introduced under former Chief Justice Georgina Woode, enabling the Judiciary to travel across the country to hear cases of remand prisoners. However, due to financial constraints, the programme was halted at some point.”
He further noted that many people have been on remand for ten years without trial, often due to prosecutors being transferred and cases being abandoned.
Mr Bekai stressed that government investment in addressing these issues would serve the greater good of humanity.
Additionally, he suggested that the government could initiate a process to support individuals seeking appeals, which would help decongest prisons.
“There are several people who have been in remand for ten years without having their day in court. Sometimes, the prosecutors handling their cases are transferred, and that will be the end of the cases. If the person on remand does not have the resources to pursue the case, he or she will end up in custody for years. There are people who are innocent but in jail. There are those on remand whose cases have been abandoned for years, so it is a serious issue we have to deal with. If the government can invest resources in dealing with these issues, it would serve a greater good for humanity. The government can also initiate a process where persons interested in going for appeals would be supported. These initiatives will help in decongesting our prisons.”
Meanwhile, he acknowledged that Yaw Asante Agyekum could pursue legal action for unlawful prosecution and seek compensation for his wrongful conviction.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
