Accra: The implementation of the Justice for All Programme (JFAP) is making a significant impact in Ghana's justice delivery system. The JFAP brings court proceedings directly into prison facilities and responds to systemic delays in the justice system as the nation experiences overcrowding in its prisons, with thousands of remand prisoners living under difficult conditions. To bridge the gap between the courts and remand inmates, the JFAP is expediting cases, raising critical questions about fairness, access, and the broader administration of justice.
According to Ghana News Agency, the JFAP was introduced in 2007 as a state-led initiative aimed at reducing the number of remand prisoners to address overcrowding and protect the rights and dignity of prisoners. The programme operates through a multi-institutional partnership involving the Judicial Service, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Police Service, CHRAJ, and the POS Foundation, an NGO. Specialised mobile courts sit within prison facilities to review cases, grant bails, and accelerate trials where appropriate. Initially implemented in Accra, the programme has since been expanded nationwide, with virtual hearings introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to decentralise access to justice and strengthen legal aid support for disadvantaged detainees.
The JFAP seeks to deliver justice to inmates who have often waited years without trial. Speaking at a recent in-prison court session in Sunyani, Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, said the JFAP complemented rather than replaced conventional court processes. She highlighted the programme's role in reducing case backlogs, decongesting prisons, and upholding inmates' constitutional rights. Justice Mensah-Homiah noted that the nation's prison system was under severe strain, with an inmate population of around 13,800 and remand prisoners numbering 4,218, representing about 30.57 per cent. Overcrowding exceeded 72 per cent of capacity, with many detainees remaining in custody for years, sometimes longer than the maximum sentence for their alleged offences.
Justice Mensah-Homiah cited statistics from the Ghana Prison Service (GPS) indicating that the nation's prison population stood at 13,432 as of March 25, 2026, with 11,789 inmates (87.77 percent) convicted and 1,643 (12.23 percent) on remand. These figures marked a sharp decline from the 30.57 per cent recorded in 2007, attributed to improved collaboration within the criminal justice chain. She emphasized the human impact of the JFAP, offering inmates closure through release, bail, or sentencing and replacing prolonged uncertainty with clarity.
Superintendent Dennis Peasah, Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Public Relations Officer of the GIS, expressed concerns about severe overcrowding at the Sunyani Central Prison. The facility, built in the 1960s to house 400 inmates, now accommodates over 600, nearly 80 to 90 percent above capacity. Supt. Peasah suggested that increasing the number of in-prison court sittings annually could accelerate progress and enhance responsiveness within the justice system.
Justice Mensah-Homiah highlighted Article 14(4) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that detainees be tried within a 'reasonable time' or be released. She noted that the JFAP addresses this gap by fast-tracking cases that might otherwise remain indefinitely stalled or abandoned. While the JFAP has significantly reduced congestion, Justice Mensah-Homiah stressed the need to reinforce the rule of law, describing the programme as a reflection of the nation's commitment to fairness and human rights.
Justice Mensah-Homiah acknowledged that investigative delays, limited resources, and procedural inefficiencies contribute to prolonged detention, noting that the JFAP itself is not frequent enough to address all pending cases. However, the future of the programme appears promising under the leadership of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, with planned judicial reforms expected to further ease congestion and streamline criminal trials.
Mr Eric Opoku Brobbey, Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Director of Legal Aid, called on stakeholders of the JFAP to perform their roles effectively, emphasizing that beneficiaries are vulnerable individuals without the means to secure legal representation. He underscored the importance of institutional responsibility and timely action, noting that a properly functioning justice system would eliminate the need for special interventions like the JFAP.
Sustaining the gains of the JFAP requires addressing delays at the source through strengthening investigations and coordination. There is also a need to expand and regularise JFAP sittings with digital support for efficiency and scale up legal aid alongside alternative sentencing to cut unnecessary remands and ease prison congestion. Ultimately, the long-term goal is a justice system that functions efficiently enough to render interventions less necessary. Until then, the JFAP remains a vital, though interim, tool to safeguard against prolonged pre-trial detention.