Ataa Ayi questions fairness of Justice for All Programme

Ghana’s most famous convicted armed robber, Ataa Ayi,  believes the Justice for All Programme, instituted to decongest the prisons, is discriminatory. Born Ayi Ayittey, the convicted robber thinks it is unfair how the Programme only shows leniency to remand prisoners but not convicted ones like himself. Ataa Ayi, who is the national leader of prisoners in the country is currently serving 160 years at the Ankaful Maximum security prisons in the Cape Coast, the Central Region capital. "If I may ask, what is the meaning of 'Justice for All'? If someone says justice for all, it means if you in prison you also [a part of the potential beneficiaries]. "Sometimes I don't understand why they say justice for all but they will come only for the remand prisoners and we the convicts they don't care about us", he said. The notorious armed robber turned church leader at the maximum security correctional facility is asking administrators of the programme to take a second look at how it is conducted. "We are also pleading with the government that [it] should see to that issue for us. We are not forcing them, but we are pleading", he said. The Justice for All Programme, funded by the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID), supports reform of the justice sector. The programme focuses on building the capacity, accountability and responsiveness of key policing justice and anti-corruption institutions and supporting them to work together, alongside civil society and oversight institutions , as part of a coherent, coordinated sector.

Credit: Myjoyonline.com