Establish system for inmates to commission affidavits-Lawyer pushes for reform
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In a letter addressed to the Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service and copied to the Acting Chief Justice, Dr. Asamoah appealed for systems to be instituted within correctional facilities that would allow inmates to swear affidavits...
A seasoned lawyer and law lecturer, Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah is calling for urgent reforms to Ghana’s prison system to enable inmates to commission affidavits personally, a step he believes is vital for upholding their constitutional rights.
In a letter addressed to the Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service and copied to the Acting Chief Justice, Dr. Asamoah appealed for systems to be instituted within correctional facilities that would allow inmates to swear affidavits in person. The proposal targets a pressing legal vacuum: the absence of Commissioners for Oaths in Ghana’s prisons.
Dr. Asamoah, who currently represents clients serving custodial sentences, argues that this gap severely restricts access to justice for incarcerated individuals seeking legal redress. From bail pending appeal to habeas corpus applications and human rights enforcement, such processes require affidavits — documents that many inmates are unable to legally execute on their own behalf.
He explained that, in practice, prisoners often have to rely on relatives or legal representatives to swear affidavits on their behalf—a workaround that risks undermining the truthfulness and credibility of those documents.
To address this, he is urging that select prison officers of appropriate rank be legally empowered to serve as Commissioners for Oaths, ensuring inmates can lawfully participate in their legal processes — personally and voluntarily.
Such a measure, he emphasized, would mark a significant leap toward justice reform in Ghana, aligning the country’s prison policies with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards. It would also boost confidence in the fairness and integrity of the legal system, especially for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Asamoah concluded by expressing his readiness to assist with the legal framework necessary for implementation and urged authorities to act swiftly on the matter.
The formal letter accompanying his proposal is addressed to the leadership of the Ghana Prisons Service, with a copy forwarded to the Acting Chief Justice.
