JS
The Judicial Service (JS) of Ghana is an independent State body that has the authority to interpret, apply and enforce the laws of Ghana. It exists to resolve legal conflicts fairly and efficiently. All citizens have the right to access the Courts, which have a presence in all regions of the country.
This central role in Ghanaian society, together with its strong commitment to fight corruption, makes the JS an important partner stakeholder partner for ARAP. Collaboration has involved support for the judiciary to improve their ability to hear and decide on corruption cases. Training for judges, magistrates and staff who may be inexperienced in the handling of corruption cases is essential in the fight against corruption. This includes strengthening environmental governance by providing training in the environmental courts.
In addition to training and public education activities, the JS also focusses on using technology to help increase efficiency and therefore minimise opportunities for corruption. ARAP has supported the development of a web-based library to help the criminal justice system handle cases of corruption and increase awareness for the general public.
The programme worked to foster and promote national ownership while offering international exposure and experience to enrich national efforts.
The web library is an online repository and resource centre of all legislation and judicial decisions made in Ghana, providing the official and most comprehensive access to all legal documents available to all stakeholders and users of the Justice System in Ghana.
ARAP has printed and delivered key documents to Institutions for its dissemination.
Hear and Adjudicate Criminal Cases
The Judiciary has the role - as a final step in the anti-corruption chain - to ensure that cases of corruption are penalised. ARAP aims to help equip it with effective processes to deal with cases, particularly corruption cases, in a fair and timely manner in the court system.
Support can include ensuring more effective case management systems in Court, specific practical guidance and protocols, or manuals and training. ARAP also supports the Judicial capacity to better deal with environment-related offences, in line with the programme's cross-cutting issue of environmental governance.
Web-Based Legal Library
To help ensure a more effective criminal justice chain, access to updated legal information is crucial.
ARAP works with the Judiciary to create a web-based legal library to hold such information. It provides free access to laws, regulations, judgements and other legal documents to stakeholders in the criminal justice system, such as police officials, attorneys, public prosecutors, judges and magistrates.
Internal Control and Accountability / PRCU
To increase accountability and prevent corruption, public servants must perform duties with professionalism and ethics, and strong complaints mechanisms are necessary to report ethical misconduct and corruption.
ARAP supports the Judicial Services to implement their code of conduct and ethics, and install their Public Relations and Complaints Units throughout Ghana. Technical assistance, equipment, guidance and training are provided, as well as an electronic platform to log, manage and monitor complaints.
About Arap