UK Deputy PM Lauds Ghana’s Rule Of Law Leadership
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab, has commended Ghana for its continuous efforts at strengthening rule of law on the African continent.
According to him, such acts are commendable, while describing Ghana as the beacon of hope and inspiration in that regard.
Mr. Raab, who also serves as the UK’s Secretary of State for Justice, gave the commendations when he hosted Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to a bilateral meeting at his office on King Charles Street, over many matters of mutual interest pertaining to the administration of justice in the two countries.
Mr. Dame, who had led a high-powered government delegation to attend the just concluded Justice Ministers Conference organised under the auspices of the governments of the United Kingdom and Netherlands, was invited by the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister for a discussion on areas of cooperation between Ghana and the UK in the fields of justice and international law.
Mr. Dame, while speaking at the conference had affirmed Ghana’s recognition and support for the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC), especially relating to the investigation of war crimes committed in Ukraine by Russia.
The Deputy Prime Minister, in his meeting with Ghana’s Attorney General, expressed his profound appreciation for Ghana’s strong support for the work of the ICC, evidenced through what he described as the “powerful statement” delivered by Mr. Dame, who represented the African continent at the conference, as well as unequivocal statements by the President of Ghana at various international fora.
Mr. Raab also recognised the steps Ghana’s Attorney General was taking to bring reform into criminal justice delivery in Ghana, and stated that same were in the right direction.
He disclosed that UK was attending to similar issues relating to prison reform as well as constitutional changes, in order to make decisions from the UK domestic courts assume greater prominence following the exit of the UK from the European Union.
Mr. Raab added that the passage of the plea-bargaining law by Ghana will tremendously ease congestion in the courts of Ghana, and expressed the desire to assist Ghana in any way possible with a smooth implementation of that law, given the UK’s experience with same.
Mr. Dame, on his part, underscored the need to urgently reform the processes for justice delivery in criminal cases in Ghana to make it more efficient and serve the public interest.
He noted that delays in criminal justice delivery constituted the greatest problem in that regard.
He disclosed to the UK Deputy Prime Minister, the imminence of a bill to scrap interlocutory appeals, reform the jury system in Ghana and introduce leave to appeal certain decisions into the justice system in Ghana.
Mr. Dame further highlighted the steps his administration is taking to introduce an alternative sentencing regime.
In civil matters, he indicated that the capacity of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice of Ghana had to be boosted in order to be able to handle the litany of arbitration cases constantly filed against the Government of Ghana.
This was well received by Mr. Raab, who affirmed preparedness to facilitate any assistance from the UK’s Ministry of Justice as well as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The UK Deputy Prime Minister and Ghana’s Attorney General exchanged complimentary gifts and pledged their support for a closer UK-Ghana cooperative alliance which would result in an exchange of technical and other related support to both countries.
In attendance at the meeting were top officials of the UK Ministry of Justice and Alfred Tuah Yeboah, Deputy Attorney General & Deputy Minister for Justice, Mrs. Helen A.A. Ziwu, the Solicitor-General and Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr. Dame later attended a private dinner session hosted by Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom at his residence in London.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak