US to help Ghana train state attorneys to properly investigate narcotic cases

Mr Gene A. Cretz, United States Ambassador to Ghana, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General as way of enhancing close collaboration between the ministry and the embassy.

Discussions were held behind close doors to deliberate on pertinent issues faced by the ministry and how best the US Embassy could be of assistance.

Mr Gene Cretz said the visit, among other things, was to collaborate with the ministry to train attorneys to properly investigate narcotic cases and other priority areas that the ministry deemed fit to be given assistance.

Madam Marrieta Brew Appiah Oppong, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said the ministry was undergoing admistrative and legislative reforms where a Democracy Fund had been put in place to support the Legal Aid Department.

She said though there had been persistent calls for the Ministry of Justice to be separated from the Attorney General’s Department, no formal recommendations had been made regarding the decoupling of the ministry.

Madam Brew Appiah Oppong said the reforms would also see members of the Council of State selecting their own chairman.

Source: GNA