The Justice for all Programme, its Impact on Ghana's Prisons System: A Case Study of Remand Prisoners at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison

Abstract

This study broadly investigates the impact of the “Justice for All Programme” on Ghana’s prison system. Specifically, the study seeks to outline the causes of delay in access to Justice by remand prisoners, identifies the effect of the delay in access to Justice by remand Prisoners on the Prison Administration, examines the effect of delay in access to Justice by remand Prisoners, and assesses the effect of the “Justice for All Programme” on access to justice by remand Prisoners.The study is based on a review of literature on the subject studied, and qualitative research techniques. The data was collected through Key Informant Interviews, In-depth Interviews, and review of official records. The sample size for the study is twenty one (21) respondents. This means that the findings cannot be used for statistical analysis. This study found out that there are both physical (distances from courts) and structural (adjournments) delays in the justice administration, that the prison administration is saddled with a lot of problems such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, pressure on the budget of the prisons as a result of the delay in accessing justice. The study further found out that the “Justice for All Programme” has helped to decongest the prisons to some extent. The author therefore recommends a Legal Aid Policy that shall promote speedy access to justice, reformative programmes such as skills training for prisoners, a social protection and support programmes that could help for effective reintegration of remand prisoners into society, and the establishment of a remand home to avoid the mingling of remand prisoners with convicted prisoners.