Strengthening Criminal Justice Systems and Institutions to Consolidate Democratic Governance in Ghana: The Role of State and Civil Societies

The chapter explores roles played by education, civil society organisations, state institutions (police, courts, prison services) in the democratization and strengthening of the Ghanaian Criminal Justice System. The chapter also aims at examining the relationship that is manifested within procedural democracy. Since Ghana relaunched its democratization initiative in 1992, the country has sustained successful presidential and parliamentary elections. Marked improvements have been seen in terms of human rights observation, freedoms, political tolerance and openness to the global socio-economic and political landscape, and with the recent establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The chapter concludes that, despite all these developments, there is still more room for improvement.