Attorney General (AG) and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has expressed his concern over the duration of high-profile criminal trials in the country.

According to the AG, it is unjust for cases involving high-profile individuals accused of summary offenses such as fraud to drag on for extended periods, while cases involving ordinary members of the public are typically concluded within six months.

In his address at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Annual General Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana in Accra on Tuesday, Godfred Dame urged the judiciary to ensure that their legal processes are free from undue delays and inefficiencies.

“My Lady, I will only urge the Judiciary to ensure that their processes are devoid of undue delays and inefficiencies, for a robust legal system, underpinned by the rule of law, goes hand in hand with economic prosperity, bolsters the confidence of the people and deters the perpetration of wrongdoing.

“A court system in which summary trials of criminal cases can last for more than four years militates against the right to a fair trial, defeats the ends of justice and must be looked at again.

“It is unjust and unfair for so-called high profile criminal cases involving the summary offences of fraud, willfully causing financial loss to the State and money laundering to drag on for years whilst similar cases filed against the perceived ordinary members of society are concluded within six months to one year,” the AG intimated.

He emphasized that a robust legal system, guided by the rule of law, is essential for fostering economic prosperity.