Mr Kojo Graham, Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Civil Liberties (CHURCIL) has lauded the “Justice for all Programme” for helping to reduce pre-trial detention cases in the country.
He said though some beneficiaries of the programme had engaged in activities that violate the law, they are only a handful, compared to its positive impact on society.
Mr Graham made the comment when CHURCIL, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General Department and the Judicial Service of Ghana, organized the “Justice for All Programme” for inmates of the Nsawam Prisons, who had been detained for a number of years without trial at the courts.
The programme, which started in 2006, had so far heard about 1,700 cases in prison court sittings across the country.
At the court sittings, out of the 71 cases which were heard by the various judges, 27 persons were discharged by the courts, 33 granted bail, 10 cases adjourned, seven cases were dismissed while one person’s bail was reviewed.
Mr Graham also stated that the programme started at a time when people had been put in prison for over 20 years without trial.
He noted that the overall impact of the programme has been positive because it has helped to ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of remand prisoners.
He said the programme has been able to cut down on pre-trial detention period from 20years to five years.
Mr Graham further stated that before a person is selected to benefit from the programme, a lot of background checks are done by the Police, Attorney General’s Department and others to find out whether that person qualifies under the programme.
He assured that CHURCIL would continue to work with the Attorney General’s Department and the Judicial Service to ensure that issues of pre-trial detention were completely dealt with so far as human rights were concerned.
Mr Graham also urged other NGOs and lawyers, who are committed to the process, to show interest in post-rehabilitation of the inmates.
He said though some religious organizations are working on that aspect, their efforts were limited.
He commended the Attorney General’s Department and the Judicial Service for their commitment to the programme and helping to reduce pre-trial detention in the country.
“We should continue to work together to reduce pre-trial detention and to elevate the standards of the country as a place where we observe and respect human rights,” he said.
