27 remand prisoners discharged

Twenty-seven prisoners of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, who are on remand, have been discharged in the first day of hearing under the Justice for All programme in Accra.

After the trial of 71 cases by seven Appeal and High Court judges, 33 remand prisoners were granted bail. Five cases were adjourned and six were dismissed.

Under the programme, which started five years ago with the aim of decongesting the country’s prisons, 1,700 cases have so far been heard.

The Justice for All Programme was initiated by the Judicial Service, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department and the Centre for Human Rights and Civil Liberties (CHURCIL) to ensure that people on remand for more than five years without trial are given a fair hearing by the courts.

Speaking to the media after the first day of hearing, Kojo Graham, Executive Director of CHURCHIL, said the programme had been beneficial to prisoners on remand who may not have gained the opportunity for fair trial, which is their fundamental human rights.

He said overall the programme had helped to reduce the number of years prisoners remain in prison without fair trial.

“First we had people staying here for as long as 15 to 21 years but with the justice for all programme that number has been reduced to as low as five years,” he said.

Although there have been concerns that most of the remand prisoners go back to jail a few months after their release, it is only a handful that return, Mr. Graham noted.

He added that the organization would consider post rehabilitation programmes for the released prisoners.

He also commended the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department for their commitment to the programme.