Ghana hits new feat in criminal justice system with launch of e-Case tracking system
In view of the very slow pace in the administration of criminal justice system in the continent, Ghana has shown the way out of the scourge with the launch of the first African electronic Integrated Criminal Justice Case-Tracking System.
It would be recalled that a newly released report of enquiry on the frustrations faced in the Nigerian’s criminal justice system by the National Judicial Council (NJC) showed that one of the key challenges drawing back the delivery of justice in Nigerian courts has been delays associated with lack of conclusive investigations and diligent prosecutions and analysts say the introduction of the electronic system will go a long way in solving some of the drawbacks.
Explaining the feat during the launch earlier in the week, Ghanaian Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said the scheme is designed to support key stakeholders in the justice delivery system to collect, collate and harmonise statistical data for effective justice delivery.
Business Hilights gathered that the project has a special focus on crimes related to corruption, border security, maritime security and cybercrime, aimed at improving transparency, accountability and management of the country’s justice delivery system, and to boost the confidence of the citizenry in the Judiciary.
The Case-Tracking System is a Government’s of Ghana Project with support from the United States Agency for International Development intended to promote inter-agency collaboration and information sharing through an integrated information communication platform.
It will enable the key actors in the justice delivery system such as the Ghana Police Service, the Prison Service, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Economic and Organised Crime Office ( a kind of Nigeria’s EFCC) and the Legal Aid, to electronically access and track the various stages of the criminal cases from the point of arrest, investigations, prosecution, conviction rehabilitation and release.
Addressing key stakeholders at the launch, in Accra, Dr Bawumia said the project was of great significance to the nation as its successful implementation would enhance the quality of the justice delivery system and boost the robustness of the judicial processes.
While stressing that government’s commitment to harness the potentials of information communication technology (ICT) to address the challenges facing the justice delivery system, Vice President Bawumia said over the year, the country’s justice delivery system had suffered weak inter-agency coordination and communication, which needed to be tackled urgently to ensure timeous dispensation of justice.
He said in the work of the administration of justice, the citizens expected fair, judicious and equal treatment of the law to all citizens and it was prudent to ensure efficient and effective judicial processes.
Dr Bawumia noted: “For peace to be maintained among the citizens for our collective sense that we live in a good society, citizens must have reasonable faith that, the courts are able to dispense justice impartially, speedily and efficiently.
“For investors to have confidence in an economy, it must be certain that commercial disputes would be fairly and efficiently adjudicated”.
The Vice President reminded the key actors in the justice system that undue delays in dispensing justice was a recipe for chaos and disorderliness and, therefore, urged them not to take their work for granted because their everyday decisions and administrative processes were consequential for the lives of the many citizens and corporate institutions.
‘Electronic Case-Tracking Project: A Collaborative Effort’ was the theme chosen for the launch, which attracted key stakeholders in the justice system, including Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Abena Boafo Akuffo, the Chief Justice and Madam Gloria Efua Akuffo, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, as well as Ambassador Robert Porter Jackson, the US Ambassador to Ghana and the Diplomatic Community.
