[ 2015-03-27 ]

14 remand prisoners at Nsawam set free
Fourteen remand prisoners have been set free from
the Nsawam prisons under the Justice for all
Programme.

The prisoners, some of whom had been in custody
for over nine years, were unconditionally
discharged after hearings involving six courts and
six judges within the premises of the Nsawam
prisons.

One such remand prisoner, McCarthy told Joy News'
Seth Kwame Boateng he was arrested five years ago
on suspicion he murdered another person, an
offence he has vehemently denied.

He had never been taken to court to open his
defence but has been kept in custody for years.

He was discharged forever and would not be
re-arrested for the same offence.

The judges have been sitting to hear 77 pending
remand cases in all, Kwame Boateng reported.

The hearing in the country's prisons is one of
many reforms the Chief Justice has initiated to
decongest the prisons.

Her action follows a Joy News documentary "Locked
and Forgotten" which exposed the remand crisis in
the country's prisons.

Exactly a week today 18 remand prisoners in the
Koforidua Prisons got their freedom.

Seth Kwame Boateng reported that two more courts
are still sitting at the Nsawam prison with the
likelihood of more remand prisoners being
released.

Chairman of the Justice for all programme Clemence
Honyenugah was critical of some prosecutors who he
said have abandoned their cases.

Source - Joy News

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