Police prosecutors cannot prosecute cases exceeding GH¢500k – Chief Justice
Police prosecutors have been directed to prosecute cases with a monetary value not exceeding GH¢500,000,00.
This directive was contained in a notice signed by the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, on March 4.
The latest directive comes on the back of a letter from the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, explaining the prosecutorial limits of police prosecutors.
The notice from the Chief Justice also instructed that any case with a monetary value above the stated limit be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for advice.
According to Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Attorney General is responsible for the initiation and conduct of all prosecutions of criminal offences.
All offences prosecuted in the name of the Republic of Ghana are at the suit of the Attorney General or any other person authorised by him.
Following this constitutional mandate and section 56 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act 1960, the Attorney General authorized police officers above the rank of Sergeant to prosecute a specified class of criminal cases at the lower courts of Ghana, namely, the Circuit and District courts.
Therefore, lower court judges by this directive, are to refuse to entertain criminal cases brought by police prosecutors with monetary value beyond the permissible limits.
Below is the notice from the Chief Justice.