Fast track convicts cannot be released now - Jud. Sec.

Mr George Aryeetey, the Judicial Secretary has said it was only the courts that could order the release of the convicts of the Fast Truck Court and not the Attorney -General.

Mr Aryeetey, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, dismissed calls for the immediate release of the convicts saying that this could only be done after the judicial review upheld the Supreme Court's ruling on the unconstitutionality of the courts. "Until this is done the status quo ante should prevail."

Mr Aryeetey said since the Attorney General had opted for a review nothing could be done at the moment. He explained that the call for a review was like an appeal, which when pending, a litigant could not enjoy his success in a case.

"It is like an appeal or a stay of execution and once a review had been initiated the matter is not conclusive to warrant any implementation."

Mr Aryeetey said that even when the review goes in favour of the defendants prison officers could not simply release the convicts since they were sent to jail on committal warrant from the court and would need similar action from the court for their release.

The Judicial Secretary said that lawyers of the convicts could initiate procedures for the release of their clients if the ruling is upheld after the review.