Police prosecutors have been encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Criminal and Other Offence (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1079)'s new plea negotiating provisions.
They would be better equipped to perform their duties in the administration of justice as a result of having a greater grasp of the new plea bargaining law.
Having a thorough grasp of the provisions would considerably benefit police prosecutors in the performance of their responsibilities and in ensuring that the goal for which the legislation was formed was accomplished, according to Evelyn Daawee-Keelson, Chief State Attorney at the Attorney-General's Office, who supplied the advice.
What is a plea agreement?
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, passed a measure to legalize plea bargaining on July 22, 2022.
In the criminal justice system, pleading guilty entails giving up the right to a full trial in return for some other reward.
If the defendant enters a guilty plea, the charges against them are dropped, the number of crimes is decreased, or the sentence is lowered.
Training
Mrs. Dawee-Keelson provided guidance while training 120 police prosecutors under the Accra Regional Police Command so they could carry out their responsibilities and improve the legal justice system in the nation.
The participants, divided into two groups, underwent a two-day capacity-building course covering the new Ghanaian legislation on plea bargaining, the restrictions placed on police prosecutors during criminal trials, courtroom etiquette, and the creation of a strong witness statement and charge sheet.
The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) helped the Legal Resources Centre organize the training as part of a project titled "Improving Criminal Justice and the Administration of Justice through Advanced Technology Solution Solutions."
According to Mrs. Daawee-Keelson, who also teaches criminal procedure part-time at the Ghana School of Law, the Attorney General will soon provide guidelines to assist prosecutors and streamline the procedure.
She emphasized that until then, police prosecutors who believe entering into a plea deal would be more beneficial to the state in a case they were managing or who were approached by attorneys or accused parties to enter into a plea bargain would have to consult with their superiors, who would provide advice with feedback from the public.
The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) helped the Legal Resources Centre organize the training as part of a project titled "Improving Criminal Justice and the Administration of Justice through Advanced Technology Solution Solutions."
According to Mrs. Daawee-Keelson, who also teaches criminal procedure part-time at the Ghana School of Law, the Attorney General will soon provide guidelines to assist prosecutors and streamline the procedure.
She emphasized that until then, police prosecutors who believe entering into a plea deal would be more beneficial to the state in a case they were managing or who were approached by attorneys or accused parties to enter into a plea bargain would have to consult with their superiors, who would provide advice with feedback from the public.
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