Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, is calling for deeper reforms in Ghana’s justice system, warning that the power of the state in criminal prosecutions must be carefully balanced to avoid abuse.
Speaking on the withdrawal of charges against the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Bentil stressed that while the state has a duty to enforce the law, it also carries immense power that can easily overwhelm individuals.
He explained that criminal law systems globally are built on the principle of protecting individuals from state excesses, especially where prosecutors are involved.
“When the state uses its power against an individual, there is already an imbalance,” he said on The KeyPoints on May 9.
Bentil noted that prosecutors are ethically required not only to seek convictions but also to act fairly when evidence shows an accused person may be innocent.
“If you find evidence that someone is not guilty, you should say it,” he added.
By Christabel Success Treve
