Senase, (B/R), Dec. 10, GNA – The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), a non-governmental organization, in collaboration with the Legal Aid Commission, has sensitised a section of the public in the Bono Region on the services of the Legal Aid scheme.
The two-day sensitization exercises held separately at Dwenem and Drobo in the Jaman South Municipality and Senase in the Berekum Municipality were in line with the 2021 celebration of Legal Aid Week.
In all, about 600 participants, comprising artisanal workers, youth associations and social clubs, religious bodies, assembly members, market women, hairdressers and dressmakers, were educated on processes in accessing the legal aid scheme for justice delivery.
Madam Mina Mensah, Director, CHRI, Africa Office, explained legal aid was a human right that the country owed as a duty and advised the participants to access the scheme to promote equal access to justice.
Mrs Esther Poku-Aduhene, the Programme Manager of CHRI and Public Education and Advocacy Specialist on the USAID Justice Sector Support (JSS) Activity, explained the sensitization was in line with USAID Justice Sector Support (JSS) Activity.
The JSS activity aimed at increasing citizens’ knowledge and access to justice sector services, she said.
She said accessing equal justice delivery remained a challenge for the poor and marginalized in society due to the high cost of seeking legal services in the country.
Mrs Poku-Aduhene said many of the populace were unaware of the legal aid services hence the need to intensify public education on the scheme to make the public well-informed to access it.
“The JSS activity is, therefore, aimed at monitoring the utilization of the Ghana Case Tracking System (CTS), a system in place to help track criminal cases from its inception,” she explained.
Mr Nicholas Kwadwo Ofori, a Senior Alternative Dispute Resolution Officer at the Legal Aid Commission, explained the commission was established to provide legal advice, counselling and representation as well as access to information on legal rights, responsibilities and mechanisms for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
“There is no barrier to justice and, therefore, everybody is encouraged to bring both criminal and civil cases to the legal Aid for assistance,” he said.
Source: Ghana News Agency
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