Magistrate bemoans delays in advice on dockets

The magistrate handling the case in which two policemen have been accused of killing the driver of a bullion van at Maame Krobo in the Eastern Region has lashed out at the Attorney–General’s Department for delaying cases at the court.

Mr Stephen Owusu was particularly not happy about the long period used by the A-G’s Department to give an advice on murder cases, a situation which delays the commencement of trials at the High Court.

“The problem is that the police finish with investigations, bring the matter to court and when the cases are sent for advice, they get stuck at the A-G’s Department,” he said.

The magistrate made the comments at the Accra Central District Court last Thursday after the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Simon Apiorsornu, informed the court that the case docket was still with the A-G’s Department awaiting advice.

C/Insp. Apiorsornu explained that the case docket had now been assigned to a State Attorney at the A-G’s Department.

“The investigator went to the A-G’s Department and he was informed that the case has now been assigned to a State Attorney,” he said.

The case was adjourned to March 9, 2017.

Charge

Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah, Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwah and Hafisu Muhammad, a taxi driver, are also alleged to have injured the policeman who was escorting the bullion van.

The three have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, while the two policemen are separately charged with murder and attempted robbery.

Delay from A-G

The delay from the A-G’s Department with regard to giving advice on court dockets is often cited for delaying justice delivery and also leading to the incarceration of accused persons for long periods.

Poor working environment

State lawyers, however, attribute the delay in giving advice to inadequate personnel, lack of tools and poor remuneration.

State attorneys have on numerous occasions embarked on strike to drum home their demands for better working conditions.

The latest was a three-month strike which was called off by the Association of State Attorneys (ASA) only last month.