Diana Asonaba Dapaah, the deputy minister of justice, has emphasized the significance of the recently passed plea agreement law to the general public.

She claims that the bill aims to bring back restorative justice, where plaintiffs and victims will have a say in how the criminal justice system is carried out.

"Plea bargain assures that the victim or complainant, who is a highly important stakeholder in the justice delivery system, will also receive justice.

Therefore, the inclusion of victims in the system's entire process is a reformative step in the delivery of criminal justice.

“We know that in Ghana when you are cited for an offense it is seen as one committed against the state. In the past, the interest of the victim was disregarded. But now, with the plea bargain, the victim, complainant or their representative can make an input into the agreement negotiated between the prosecutor and the defendant,” she explained on JoyNews The Law.

President Akufo-Addo on Friday, July 22, assented to the Criminal and other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1079) to provide for plea bargaining in the administration of criminal justice.

The law, among other things, ensures the speedy trial of cases and help decongest prisons.

Under this new law, the state will be able to save resources by reducing protracted trials. Accused persons can enjoy benefits such as a reduction of the offence charged to a lesser one or the withdrawal of some of the charges against them.

In a statement issued by the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, on July 26, 2022 said Act 1079 creates exemptions to plea negotiations for offences in the nature of high treason, high crime, rape, defilement, genocide, robbery, kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, abduction, piracy, abduction, hijacking and election-related offences.

“I respectfully inform the general public that in order to ensure a sound and efficient application of the law, a series of training programmes will be organised for judges, prosecutors in the Office of Attorney General, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Prisons Service and other stakeholders in the legal profession before the law is fully implemented,” the AG said.