A human rights lawyer is calling for a comprehensive rehabilitation programme that will ensure that beneficiaries of the Justice For All programme are properly integrated into society.

Francis Sosu Xavier, an advocate of the Justice For All programme is worried at the increasing cases of arrest of crime suspects said to be beneficiaries of the programme.

On Thursday, three suspects were arrested for attempting to snatch a taxi from a driver.

Two of the suspects David Amartey aka Teye Raja and Eric Paa Kwesi Essel were said to be beneficiaries of the justice for all programme.

The programme introduced by the erstwhile Kufuor administration was to decongest the prisons and ensure suspects whose fundamental human rights have been violated get their freedom.

The programme however appears to be creating problems for the police and the society at large. 

The police have expressed concern at the rate at which beneficiaries of the justice for all programme are arrested for one criminal offence or another.

Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer ASP Afia Tenge expressed worry at the state of events.

She said it takes great effort to arrest criminals but they are released under the justice for all programme only for them to go back to commit similar offences.

Speaking to Joy News, Francis Sosu-Xavier said the sad development is proof the programme is non-conclusive.

He was however convinced the programme should not be abolished.

Quoting Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution he said when people are tried for any offence the trial has to be conducted within reasonable time or the suspects be released unconditionally.

He said some suspects have been on remand for five, nine, even 14 years when they have not even been charged for any crime.

That is blatantly against their fundamental human rights, he insisted.

Francis Xavier insisted the country must take steps to rehabilitate beneficiaries of the programme rather than seek to do away with it.