The United States Department of State has identified lengthy pre-trial detention as a "serious problem" in Ghana, noting instances where prisoners were held for indefinite periods through the renewal of warrants or by allowing warrants to lapse while investigations continued.
These findings were contained in the 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, an annual review on the status of internationally recognised human rights and worker rights.
The reports, submitted to the US Congress under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974, cover all countries receiving US assistance and all United Nations member states.
The report said delays in bringing detainees to trial or releasing them were caused by several factors, including police failure to investigate or follow up on cases, loss of case files, slow trial proceedings with frequent adjournments, and detainees' inability to meet bail conditions that were often set extremely and inadequate legal representation for criminal defendants.
