14 years in jail without trial

Accra, April 19, GNA - A middle-aged man who has been on remand for 14 years without trial for a robbery offence on Thursday cried out to a Fast Track High Court Judge, Mrs Justice Iris-May Brown to "save" him.

"My Lord save me, I am innocent," Francis Agyare said. "I don't have anybody to help me. No relation has ever visited me in prison."


According to Agyare his docket could not be traced and although he has petitioned the prison authorities and the Attorney General there has been no response.


Agyare dressed in an ash T-Shirt persistently raised his hand to attract the attention of the judge.


However, the Judge told the accused: "Your docket is not before me."

When she asked lawyers from the Attorney-General's Office where the docket of the accused persons was, Mrs Evelyn Keelson, a Senior State Attorney, who was not the person handling the case, said she was sure there would be a docket on the accused person.


The judge assigned Mr Takyi Menson, a lawyer, to be a solicitor for the accused and ordered the Registrar of the Court to issue hearing notices.


Mrs Brown assured the accused the case had moved a step forward. Agyare and Henry Clottey Abbey who are being held for robbery have been in custody for 14 years.