61 on remand benefit from Justice For All Programme in Kumasi

Sixteen remand prisoners have been set free while 45 others who were also on remand at the Kumasi Central Prison have been granted bail as part of the Justice for All Programme.

In all, a total of 133 applications were considered by three High Court judges headed by Justice Clemence Honyenugah at the Kumasi Central Prisons on Thursday and Friday under the programme.

Four applicants were committed to serve various terms in  prison.

32 others had their applications refused while 20 were absent for various reasons.

Justice For All Programme (JFAP)

Established in 2007, the JFAP is aimed at helping to decongest the country’s prisons and promote prisoner rights, especially those of remand prisoners.

The programme actually involves the setting up of special courts at the prisons where cases of prisoners whose cases meet the criteria of the programme are reviewed.

The JFAP has been beneficial to the vulnerable and poor who find themselves in detention for one reason or another and are unable to afford the legal fees and so self-represent or remain unrepresented.