Ministry Orders Refund Of Monies • Illegally Taken From Traffic Offenders

The Ministry of Justice has set up a task force to refund all monies illegally taken from offenders of the Road Traffic Act from October 3, 2008 when the law came into force.

In addition, persons in prison custody because of their inability to pay the illegal fines imposed on them by the courts are to be released immediately.

A statement signed by the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, said some courts in the country which tried motor offences had been using penalties in the Road Traffic Act (Act 683) of 2004 and were imposing sentences which were not warranted by law.

“The Road Traffic Act 683 was passed in 2004. At that time the value of a penalty unit was ¢20,000 (GH¢2.00).

Subsequently by L.I 1831 the value of a penalty unit was increased to ¢120,000 (GH¢12.00). By that, the fines in the act went up six-fold,” it stated.

It stated that a bill was sent to Parliament in July 2008 when the Attorney-General's attention was drawn to the situation and it was subsequently passed.

The statement said on September 29, 2008, President J.A. Kufuor gave his assent to the act, which was gazetted on October 3, 2008 and, therefore, came into force on that date.

It, however, said the courts which tried motor cases had not taken note of the new act and had been giving sentences based on the amended provisions of the old act, which was clearly illegal.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice who called for the immediate rectification of the situation deeply regretted the inconvenience caused by the situation, it added. Story by Jennifer Dornoo