Part 1 of this article examined how witnesses may be influenced before and during a police investigation through discussions with other witnesses, family members, social media, news coverage, suggestive questioning and translation. The risk of contamination, however, does not end when the police obtain a witness statement. It may continue when prosecutors meet witnesses to … Continue reading Witness Contamination: When Good Evidence Becomes Unreliable – Part 2
criminal-justice
Witness Contamination: When Good Evidence Becomes Unreliable – Part 1
When people think about unreliable witness evidence, they often imagine a dishonest witness who deliberately lies to investigators, prosecutors or the court. In reality, some problematic witness evidence results from honest mistakes. A witness may genuinely believe that what they are saying is true and yet unknowingly provide inaccurate information. One reason this happens is … Continue reading Witness Contamination: When Good Evidence Becomes Unreliable – Part 1
Rehabilitation of Offenders: Lessons from International Practice for Ghana
By: Her Worship Georgette Carmel Lutterodt, Esq., Her Worship Anastacia Yaa Agyeiwaa Karimu, Esq. and Her Worship Dromo Afarley Djarbeng, Esq.Introduction For many years, imprisonment has largely been understood as an instrument of punishment. The offender commits an offence, is convicted and is sent to prison to serve a prescribed sentence. However, modern correctional policy increasingly recognises that … Continue reading Rehabilitation of Offenders: Lessons from International Practice for Ghana
Beyond Community Service: Ghana’s Need For A Comprehensive Non-Custodial Sentencing Framework
By: Tracy Abena Serwaa Frimpong Abstract Ghana’s criminal justice framework has long been characterised by imprisonments even for misdemeanours and minor offences. But recently, the Parliament of Ghana has taken a major step through the passage of the Community Service Bill 2026 to introduce community service as an alternative to imprisonment for minor offences. However, … Continue reading Beyond Community Service: Ghana’s Need For A Comprehensive Non-Custodial Sentencing Framework
The Rehabilitation of Young Offenders Under Ghana’s Juvenile Justice System: A Grey Area in the Law
By: Her Worship Georgette Carmel Lutterodt, Esq., Her Worship Anastacia Yaa Agyeiwaa Karimu, Esq. and Her Worship Dromo Afarley Djarbeng, Esq. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2003 (Act 653) was enacted to establish a juvenile justice system designed to protect the rights of juveniles, provide an appropriate and individualised response to juvenile offending, and make provision for the treatment of young … Continue reading The Rehabilitation of Young Offenders Under Ghana’s Juvenile Justice System: A Grey Area in the Law
Penal Reform in Ghana: How the Supreme Court Paved the Way for Community Sentencing
By: Her Worship Georgette Carmel Lutterodt, Esq., Her Worship Anastacia Yaa Agyeiwaa Karimu, Esq. and Her Worship Dromo Afarley Djarbeng, Esq. For many years, Ghana's criminal justice system has relied heavily on custodial sentences, even for offences that could be addressed through alternative forms of punishment. This overreliance on imprisonment has contributed to overcrowded prisons, increased public expenditure, … Continue reading Penal Reform in Ghana: How the Supreme Court Paved the Way for Community Sentencing
Theories of Punishment and their Place in Ghana’s Criminal Justice System
By: Her Worship Georgette Carmel Lutterodt, Esq., Her Worship Anastacia Yaa Agyeiwaa Karimu, Esq. and Her Worship Dromo Afarley Djarbeng, Esq. INTRODUCTION Punishment has always occupied a central place in every criminal justice system. It is the means by which society responds to criminal conduct, condemns unlawful behaviour, protects the public, and seeks to preserve law and order. … Continue reading Theories of Punishment and their Place in Ghana’s Criminal Justice System
Judicial Discretion Under Ghana’s New Community Service Bill
Introduction The passage of the Community Service Bill by Parliament is one of the most significant sentencing reforms in Ghana's criminal justice system in recent decades, comparable in significance to the repeal of the death penalty for certain offences. By introducing community service as an alternative to imprisonment for specified categories of offences, Parliament has … Continue reading Judicial Discretion Under Ghana’s New Community Service Bill
Part 2: What Happens After the Death of an Accused Person? Property, Exhibits and Forfeiture
This article is Part 2 of a three-part series examining what happens when an accused person dies during criminal proceedings. Part 1 explained how criminal proceedings generally come to an end upon the death of an accused person. This article examines a related but distinct question: what happens to property connected to the case after … Continue reading Part 2: What Happens After the Death of an Accused Person? Property, Exhibits and Forfeiture
Understanding Legal Aid in Ghana: Insights from a Legal Aid Practitioner
Access to justice remains a central component of Ghana’s justice system, yet many members of the public have limited understanding of the role played by Legal Aid officers and the challenges involved in providing legal representation to indigent persons. As part of Criminal Law Blog Ghana’s ongoing effort to highlight the work of criminal justice … Continue reading Understanding Legal Aid in Ghana: Insights from a Legal Aid Practitioner
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