Retain regional tribunals - Adade
Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo) 02 July 2001
The Techiman district tribunal has sentenced Gideon Frimpong, a 23-year-old unemployed, described as a "notorious burglar" to ten years' imprisonment in hard labour.
Frimpong was found guilty of unlawful entry and stealing electronic gadgets, all valued at 10 million cedis.
The prosecution said Frimpong was a notorious thief, who had been disturbing the peace of the people in the area for a long time.
It said Frimpong stole the items after a heavy downpour in Nkoranza on Tuesday, June 19 this year. He was arrested on suspicion as police followed the prints of his shoe, from the workshop located at Nkranza-Kassadjan to his house where they found the items.
The prosecution said the items included two 20 inches colour television sets, two tape recorders and a large speaker box.
GRi../
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 July 2001
Mr Justice N. Y. B. Adade, retired Supreme Court Judge, on Friday called for the retention of the Regional Tribunals with modifications that would make them more useful than the High Courts.
He said "the regional tribunals may if properly handled, become even more useful than the High Courts as they will be sitting in panels of three just as the Court of Appeal".
Delivering a lecture on "Agenda for reform of the constitution: some policy considerations" organised by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) as part of activities marking the 19th Martyr's Day in Accra, Justice Adade said in view of concerns of the general public regarding lay panel members the Chief Justice should be more discriminatory in designating them.
He said it was worrisome for the constitution to approve the continued existence and practice of the jury system that was even an entrenched clause.
"The system is part of the problem of delays we experience in our courts. The presence of the jury calls on the judge to spend time on and lecturing on criminal law and procedure after each trial, in what we call directions to the jury".
Mr Justice Adade explained that failure to give the lengthy and time wasting lecture might open the ground for appeal, adding that sometimes the results have been rather not too salutary.
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