A total of 21 remand inmates at the Tamale Central Prison have been granted bail under the Justice for All Programme (JFAP), in a renewed effort to decongest prisons and improve access to justice.

The decision followed a special court sitting at the prison, during which 37 applications were reviewed. In addition to the 21 inmates granted bail, two were discharged unconditionally, four changed their pleas and were accordingly convicted, while three applications were struck out.

Three inmates were referred for psychiatric treatment, and four bail applications were refused for various reasons.

Addressing the media after the hearing in Tamale on Monday, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, said the programme was not only reducing congestion in prisons but also strengthening public confidence in the justice system.

She cited figures from the Ghana Prisons Service indicating that the total inmate population currently stands at 13,620. Of that number, 11,875 are convicts, representing 87.19 per cent, while 1,745 are remand prisoners, representing 12.81 per cent.

Justice Mensah-Homiah noted that since its inception in 2007, the Justice for All Programme had made a significant impact by reducing the proportion of remand prisoners from 30.57 per cent to the current 12.81 per cent.

Given these statistics, she expressed confidence in the prospects for the country’s prison system.

She added that the programme provided an important platform for remand inmates, particularly those who had spent prolonged periods in custody without trial, to have their cases reviewed and determined expeditiously.

She said the initiative formed part of efforts to ensure speedy trials and the protection of the constitutional rights of accused persons.

The Justice for All Programme is a collaboration between the Judicial Service, the Ghana Prisons Service and other justice sector stakeholders. It seeks to address delays in the adjudication of cases and promote fairness within the criminal justice system.

The sitting at the Tamale Central Prison formed part of periodic reviews conducted under the programme to ensure that remand inmates are not unduly detained.

Authorities say the continued implementation of the initiative remains critical to sustaining gains made in reducing the remand population and strengthening access to justice.