No institutional framework to fight cross-border crime – Chief Justice

General News of Saturday, March 23, 2019

Source: Starrfmonline.com

2019-03-23

Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo expressed dismay at the lack of an appropriate institutional framework to fight cross-border crimes in the West African subregion.

She stated that ECOWAS had been slow to deal with the problems related to the resulting free movement of persons and property regime in the area.

"The institutional framework is simply not present in the various states to address such serious and devastating criminal problems for the socio-economic life of the peoples of Africa." West, and divert the meager resources to improve people's daily lives, to deal only with security problems, "she said.

The President of the Supreme Court was speaking at a symposium organized by the Wayamo Foundation and the African Group for Justice and Accountability, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and with the support of the International Training Center. Peacekeeping Kofi Annan (KAIPTC) and the School of Law. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

It was on the theme "International Justice in West Africa – Leadership, Challenges and Opportunities".

She said: "There is no mechanism in place to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators, except that individual member states decide to act on their own, with or without the cooperation of any individual. other Member States, in which part of the process of committing the crime could have taken place ".

"In addition to money laundering, other serious cross-border crimes continue to proliferate in the ECOWAS region, with disastrous consequences for the social fabric as well as security implications. Some of these crimes are trafficking in human beings, smuggling and arms trafficking, gangsterism, "she added.

It did, however, instruct conference participants to deliberate on issues such as the rapid establishment of a cross-border investigation into alleged crimes, the organization of quick trials and the possibility of granting the courts extraterritorial jurisdiction vis – à – vis nationals of other States whose criminal activities are cross – border.

Also find ways to strengthen existing institutions, providing them with the necessary means to fight against cross-border crimes, and urge the governments of ECOWAS to badume their responsibilities respecting global peace by fighting against impunity on their territory .

"This should start with the adoption of national legislation to allow universal standards in national legal systems and to put in place measures for their application. These and other measures must be the subject of a well-conceived protocol by the AU or West Africa, in accordance with Article 57 of the Revised Treaty, instruments of the institutions existing regional judicial systems. "

The symposium brought together international and local experts on international criminal justice and transnational organized crime, non-governmental organizations, academics, practitioners and members of civil society.