Interior Minister Mark Woyongo is advocating for the the review of some criminal in Ghana’s criminal justice system that have been categorized as “non-bailable.”
According to the Minister, offenses like the possession or use of Indian hemp and rape should be made bailable and not equated to murder, which is a non-bailable offense under Ghana’s law.
[contextly_sidebar id=”ALnRDmu59sta4kXHVn3BlkO151bXjCUa”]In an interview with Citi News, the Interior Minister said the prisons will be heavily depopulated if the law is reviewed.
“Because there are certain offenses when you commit them you should be given bail. For example Indian hemp, in some countries people are allowed to use limited quantities of Indian hemp. So some of these things we shouldn’t make them non-bailable. Somebody goes to commit rape or defilement and you say the person shouldn’t be bailed I think that the person should be bailed.”
Recently the application of the law on non-baliable offenses in denying ace broadcaster Kwasi Kyei Darkwa and musician Kwaw Kesse bail has generated public debate about the propriety in keeping the statute on our books.
A report by Human Rights Council of the United Nations(UN) has said the human right conduct in Ghana’s prisons does not meet international standards.
‘’The extreme level of overcrowding extends to those on remand, the convicted and the condemned, and results in a number of serious violations: inadequate nutrition, insufficient access to medical care, poor sanitation, personal insecurity and the absence of rehabilitation services,’’ the report noted.
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana