2025 criminal assizes opened in Central Region

The Supervising High Court Judge of the Central Region, Justice Juliana Amono-Niezer, has called on all key players in the judicial system—especially judges and jurors—to uphold the highest standards of diligence, honesty, and impartiality in handling criminal cases.

Speaking during the official launch of the 2025 Criminal Assizes at the Cape Coast Court Complex, Justice Amono-Niezer emphasized that criminal trials directly impact not just the freedom and welfare of individuals but also the overall peace and stability of society.

Criminal assizes are annual special sittings of the High Court designated for hearing serious criminal matters such as murder, rape, armed robbery, and treason. 

This year’s opening was marked by the empanelling of jurors for three high-profile murder cases, including the notorious 2022 Mankessim case involving the killing of aspiring nurse Georgina Asor Botchwey.

Justice Amono-Niezer noted that the criminal assizes are essential pillars of Ghana’s justice system, designed to ensure that serious offences are adjudicated fairly, swiftly, and transparently by a judge and jury.

She stressed the importance of collaboration among all players in the justice ecosystem, including legal professionals, law enforcement, correctional officers, and the media, to achieve successful outcomes. “This ceremony symbolizes our collective duty to uphold the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights, and maintain public order,” she affirmed.

The judge commended stakeholders for their sustained professionalism and impartial service over the years, and lauded the media’s role in promoting public accountability through accurate and ethical reporting.

Supporting this call, Mr. Vincent Aboagye Nyinaku, Principal State Attorney at the Attorney-General’s Department, highlighted the vital role of criminal justice in national stability. He warned that without an effective system, the nation would descend into lawlessness and urged jurors to uphold fairness by basing verdicts solely on credible evidence.

Mr. Nyinaku also advocated for expedited trials and called for increased financial support to enable state prosecutors to function effectively.

In a show of solidarity, Mr. Daniel Arthur, Secretary of the Central Region Bar Association, pledged the Bar’s unwavering commitment to justice, promising that their members would act with integrity and objectivity to ensure that only the guilty are punished.