Capacity building workshop for State Attorneys began in Koforidua

Koforidua, Nov. 29, GNA - A three-day capacity building workshop for State Attorneys aimed at broadening their knowledge in and about investigating and prosecuting emerging economic and organized crimes began in Koforidua on Monday.

Mr Martin A.B. K. Amidu, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said prosecuting attorneys must at all times be conversant with a wide spectrum of criminal offences and procedure.

He appealed to the participants to utilize the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the new and emerging economic and organized crimes and the techniques and processes for their successful investigation and prosecution.

“This will give you mastery of this emerging field of criminal justice administration, build your confidence and position you to discharge your prosecutorial duties creditably and with distinction”.

Mr Amidu said emerging crimes such as cyber crime, money laundering, drug and human trafficking among others were organized and executed in such a manner as to make them difficult to detect and prosecute.

He said prosecuting Attorney must master and appreciate not only the relevant legislation proscribing the offences but also the subtle essence and nature of those intricate crimes if he was to professionally and successfully prosecute them.

“Without mastery of the nuances and technique of such crimes one would be incapable of properly directing police investigations for the production of credible evidence for successful prosecutions”.

Mr Amidu said it was therefore important for the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General's Department to ensure that it continuously built the capacity of its Attorneys.

That, he said, would help expose them to the latest thinking and perspectives in the respective areas of their practice so as to expand their pool of knowledge, experience, sharpen their skills, competences, and produce masters with artistry in their chosen fields in the Ministry.

“I want to see a Ministry of Justice with attorneys who are more effective, efficient, impartial and friendly to all law abiding citizens”.

Mr Amidu noted with concern the unattractive salary and other conditions of service of attorneys and gave the assurance that the Legal Service Board was making every effort to improve their conditions of service to enable Government attract more lawyers into the Legal Service.

GNA