Accra: Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has rejected claims that efforts to speed up criminal prosecutions were politically motivated to secure convictions ahead of elections. His comments come amid ongoing public debate about the timing and intent of prosecution-related reforms during the previous administration.
According to Ghana Web, Dame dismissed suggestions that his actions were aimed at political opponents, insisting the reforms were driven by a broader concern over delays in the criminal justice system. 'Definitely not, definitely not,' Dame stated emphatically when asked if the move was for political gain. He emphasized that the reforms had general applicability across Ghana, aiming to enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system rather than serve partisan interests.
Dame highlighted his primary concern was systemic, explaining that the initiative enjoyed wide support, including from civil society and the international community. He recalled personally writing to national institutions to urge faster prosecutions and leading a delegation of senior lawyers, including the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Solicitor General, to England to study best practices in criminal prosecution.
He further elaborated that the visible actions taken during his tenure were to strengthen the system as a whole. Notably, the reforms included significant amendments to the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
During his tenure, Dame initiated major reforms, including the introduction of plea bargaining, which was passed into law in June 2022. The new law allows accused persons to admit guilt and negotiate for a reduced sentence or lesser charge, with exceptions for serious offences. This aimed to reduce case backlog in courts, decongest prisons, and speed up justice delivery.
In March 2024, Dame laid a more comprehensive Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. The proposed changes included day-to-day trials of criminal cases to minimize adjournments, restrictions on interlocutory appeals, reform of the jury system, and the use of video conferencing for witness examination. These measures were designed to tackle prolonged criminal trials and improve overall efficiency in the justice system.