Fifteen inmates at the Koforidua Prisons have been granted bail following an in-prison court sitting under the Justice For All Programme on Wednesday, March 4.
Of the 31 cases presented, four prisoners were convicted and had their cases adjudicated, two inmates were referred for psychiatric treatment, two bail applications were denied, five cases were struck out, and three were withdrawn.
The Justice For All Programme, launched in 2007, was initially implemented when Ghana’s prison population stood at 13,800, including 4,218 remand inmates, representing 30.57 per cent.
Current figures from the Judiciary, based on records from the Ghana Prisons Service, show a total inmate population of 13,620, comprising 1,745 remand prisoners (12.8 per cent) and 11,875 convicts (87.19 per cent).
Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akua Serwaa Asare Botchway, who supervised the proceedings, described the programme as a demonstration of Ghana’s commitment to the rule of law and the protection of human rights.
She highlighted that the initiative helps address systemic challenges, particularly for vulnerable inmates without legal representation.
“If we improve our system, there will be no need for the Justice For All Programme. The programme is only required when there is a systemic failure,” she stated.
Source: Adom Online
