Attorney-General presents proposed Criminal Justice Reforms bill to Cabinet for consideration

The Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has presented a bill to the Cabinet aimed at reforming the criminal justice system. The bill seeks to bring about comprehensive changes, including an overhaul of the jury system and a reduction in interlocutory applications during criminal case hearings.

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Expected to receive Cabinet approval this month, the bill addresses various aspects of the criminal justice system that contribute to unnecessary delays. One of its provisions is the prohibition of interlocutory appeals in criminal proceedings until the prosecution has completed presenting its case.

Furthermore, the bill introduces several measures such as conducting cases on a day-to-day basis, facilitating the use of video conferences for evidence-taking, and proposing a maximum 14-day adjournment period for criminal cases.

In addition, the bill empowers the Attorney-General to decide whether a murder case should be tried by a jury or by a judge alone.

During a visit by the family of the late Major Maxwell Adam Mahama, Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame disclosed the need for significant reforms in the trial of criminal cases in Ghana, citing the challenges highlighted during the trial of the accused persons involved in Major Mahama’s murder.

Mr. Dame pointed out that the involvement of the jury significantly delayed the determination of the case. He contrasted this with the trial of a high treason case, which lasted only two years due to the use of a three-member panel instead of a jury. The Attorney-General also referenced a specific jury verdict in the trial of Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangdi, highlighting the challenges associated with the jury system.

Under the proposed bill, alternative jurors would be available to fill vacant seats, ensuring that trials are not put on hold due to the absence of a juror.

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During the meeting with the Attorney-General, Major Mahama’s mother, Veronica Bamford, expressed her gratitude for the Attorney-General’s involvement in the case. She shared the toll her son’s murder had taken on her mental health and expressed her hope that such a tragedy would never befall anyone else.

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Veronica Bamford’s brother, Kaleona Tizzala, acknowledged the seven-year journey the family had undertaken to seek justice for their son. He commended the Office of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice for their dedication in bringing the case to a close. Tizzala emphasized that the family found solace in the unanimous verdict of the seven-member jury, viewing it as a deterrent against future acts of brutal murder.

Providing background information, a former Assembly Member, William Baah, and 11 others were found guilty of various charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the trial related to Major Mahama’s murder. Two individuals were acquitted, while the rest received life imprisonment sentences as per the amended Criminal Offences Act, which replaced the death penalty with life imprisonment for murder.

This verdict concluded the five-year trial presided over by Justice Mariama Owusu, a Justice of the Supreme Court who served as a High Court Judge in the Criminal Jurisdiction.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh