Audio By Carbonatix
A man who had been on remand for five months for possessing a roll of cannabis popularly called 'weed' has been discharged under the Justice For all Programme, Friday.
Kwame Esun, 28, was arrested in a town close to Sekondi on November 17, 2016 in possession of cannabis and has been on remand since then.
He was arrested in the company of six others all of whom have been freed.
Officials of the Justice For All Programme who are reviewing over 30 remand cases in the Sekondi prisons convicted Esun on his own plea but decided to discharge him having served five months already without trial.
Joy News' Seth Kwame Boateng who is following the activities of the Justice For All programme reported that Esun was made to sign a bond of good behavior for a period of 12 months or will be jailed for two years.
According to Boateng, four other remand prisoners have also been discharged with one other case struck out.
Even though the Justice For All Programme began in September 2007, a Joy News documentary championed by Seth Kwame Boateng in 2015 brought into sharp focus the importance of the programme.
The documentary titled Locked and Forgotten, showed the crude, cruel, and inhumane conditions under which prisoners, particularly those on remand endure in prison.
The documentary captured how some innocent victims were left to rot in prison for as many years whilst others with misdemeanors were also left to spend many years than they would have spent if tried and convicted.
The Justice For All Programme was therefore reinvigorated to decongest the country's prisons.
Two High Court judges have been shuffling through the country's prisons to look into cases of remand prisoners and to bring finality on individual cases.
At the Sekondi prisons, the judges are looking into some 30 remand cases and are expected to make rulings on each one of them before proceeding to another prison.
Latest Stories
-
The World Cup and the new geography of belonging
44 minutes -
World Cup 2026: The Stars that were a kick away from a semi-final 16 years ago, arrive in USA not as standard-bearers
54 minutes -
Sky Train trial: $2m loss was caused by Covid-19, defence lawyers argue
1 hour -
Petrol prices set for sharpest drop in months as fuel costs fall from June 16
1 hour -
Vehicle pollution, a leading risk factor for death in Ghana both the children and working class
2 hours -
GNFS intensifies fire prevention campaigns in Eastern Region
2 hours -
Presidency cuts political appointees by 124, but compensation bill jumps 148% and staff classifications raise questions
2 hours -
Retirees benefit from 7th health screening of Lordina Foundation
2 hours -
Sogakope residents storm ECG office over alleged overbilling, poor service delivery
2 hours -
BoG extends registration deadline for money transfer operators
2 hours -
Esiama Market to become commercial hub of Ellembelle – Kofi Buah
2 hours -
Black Stars to depart Rhode Island for Toronto today ahead of Panama clash on Wednesday
2 hours -
Wenchi 24-Hour Market project takes shape
2 hours -
Suaman MP urges NPP members to rally behind Dr Bawumia for victory 2028
2 hours -
Auditors’ Court to be established to prosecute audit offences – Ato Forson
2 hours