A Former Deputy Attorney General under the Rawlings regime says prosecutors must not be too bothered about whether they win or lose cases in court. Mr Martin Amidu, who is currently the Interior Minister, said all prosecutors must be concerned about upholding the rule of law and accept the verdicts of the courts. Speaking at the launch of the first ever Ghana code for prosecutors, Mr Amidu said prosecutors must demonstrate that they care about the people they prosecute and behave in ways that give true meaning to the legal expression that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Chief Justice Georgina Wood, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the launch, reminded the country’s prosecutors that cases are won or lost depending on the evidence they present in court. She enjoined prosecutors to do their work with utmost diligence so that justice must at all times be seen to be done. The Chief Justice advocated the simplification of the code for police prosecutors, arguing the code in its current form was not user friendly for the police. Attorney-General Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, who launched the code, said from next year, trained lawyers will take over the prosecution of cases from the police at the circuit court albeit on a pilot basis. Whilst lauding the efforts of police prosecutors, she said no longer shall cases be lost simply because the prosecutor does not know the section of the Criminal Code to find the charge. Speaking to the code, Mrs Mould Iddrisu said “Many a time prosecutors are faced with novel situations in the performance of their duties for which there are no guidelines to follow. When faced with such situations, prosecutors and other officers mandated by the Attorney-General to prosecute cases have in the past done so without clearly laid down principles to guide them.” “Hopefully, the launch of this Code in addition to the automated system of selection of judges to preside on cases will go a long way to stamp out unprofessional conduct in the administration of criminal justice in our dear nation,” she stated. The Code, in its opening paragraphs said “Fair, effective and expeditious prosecutions are essential for the maintenance of law and order and the well-being of society.” It said the decision to prosecute is an important one because “It has serious implications for each person involved, that is victims, witnesses, accused persons, specific groups, communities, the public and the nation as a whole.” “Prosecutors must be fair, independent, objective and diligent. They must uphold the principles of the Constitution. They must conduct prosecutions in accordance with this Code,” it stated. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana