Ghana: Information on which tribunal is currently responsible for trying members of the Ghanaian armed forces who are accused of serious offenses such as treason and subversion, and on decisions by such tribunals since January 1993
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA17529.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Information on which tribunal is currently responsible for trying members of the Ghanaian armed forces who are accused of serious offenses such as treason and subversion, and on decisions by such tribunals since January 1993, 1 May 1994, GHA17529.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba594.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Ghanaian Special Military Tribunal hears criminal cases involving members of the country's military (Europa 1993 1993, 1264). The tribunal was established in 1982 (Encyclopedia of the Third World 1992, 685) and comprises five to seven members (Europa 1993 1993, 1264).
A specialist on Ghana at the department of African studies at Wayne State University in Detroit stated that all charges brought against Ghanaian military personnel are normally dealt with by the tribunal (25 May 1994). He stated that the tribunal operates independently from the regular judiciary and is convened when needed to try specific cases (ibid.). He added that defendants have the right to counsel (ibid.).
Information on decisions made by the tribunal since January 1993 could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB. However, in September 1993, West Africa reported that the government granted pardons to five former governors whom the tribunal convicted in 1984 (6-12 Sept. 1993, 1588).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File.
The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.
Professor of African studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. 25 May 1994. Telephone interview.
West Africa [London]. 6-12 September 1993. No. 3963. "Lekwot Gets Jail Term."
Attachments
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File, p. 685.
The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications, p. 1264.
West Africa [London]. 6-12 September 1993. No. 3963. "Lekwot Gets Jail Term," p. 1588.
Additional Sources Consulted
Keesing's Record of World Events. Yearly.
Indexed Media Review
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.
West Africa. Weekly.
Africa Research Bulletin. Monthly.
On-line searches of news articles.
