Fast Track courts to be established in all regions- Akuffo-Addo

Fast Track courts are to established in all the regions to speed up trials without sacrificing quality as part of radical reforms in the criminal justice system, Nana Akuffo-Addo, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General said on Saturday.

"The mechanisation and computerisation of courts are necessary to enhance efficiency so that the judicial system can do its work assiduously to minimise delays and improve delivery of justice."

Nana Akuffo-Addo said this in speech read on his behalf by Mr. Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecutions at the end of a two-week course for 50 senior Police Crime Officers drawn across the country at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

The course, which is the first of its kind in the country, was supported by the government, US, Canada and United Kingdom embassies in Accra.

He said the government was determined to pursue the construction of a new Ghanaian society in which the rule of law and respect for human rights are central in all endeavours.

Nana Akuffo-Addo called for co-operation among organs in law enforcement, adding, " The various players in the criminal justice system must, from now work hand-in-in hand with common aims, aspirations and goals, and bring the old practices, where some of these players worked more or less independently of each other to an end."

The Sector Minister expressed satisfaction with the course contents, saying, " it will make you better agents for the protection of a free, open and democratic society."

He noted problems knotty problems faced by the police like handling of remand prisoners and said that his and other sector ministries are working hard to solve these problems.

He urged the officers to put into practice the knowledge they have acquired and share with their juniors by ensuring proper supervision, so that they can present proper dockets to the Attorney-General's office and the courts.

Nana Akuffo-Addo said that the government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption is an edict for public officers, including the Police, to shed their image as corrupt institutions that prey on poor citizens.

"It is not right for police to undertake arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, confuse civil issues with criminal cases, delay trials by not readily presenting witnesses of accused persons and exhibits to the court."

Ms. Gifty Anin Botwe, Commanding Officer of the Women and Juvenile Unit, who was the course president said the course has open the horizon of participants to establish the public as their number one stakeholder.

She appealed that recommendations made by participants to ensure efficiency would be taken in good faith and be adopted for the good of the country.