Accra Feb. 14, GNA- Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Chief Justice on Monday inaugurated a 19-member governing council of the first University College of Criminal Justice at a ceremony in Accra.

The university, known as the Premier Institute of Law Enforcement Management and Administration (PILEMA) is committed to teaching and training of security providers and consumers in modern methods of detecting and preventing crime.

PILEMA, which commenced in 2004/2005 academic year, would run tertiary level courses in police practice, forensic investigation, and security management among others things.

It has Professor Godwin K. Nukunya of the University of Ghana as the Rector and Mr Seth C. K Amedofu a retired member of the Criminal Investigation Department, Ghana Police Service and Associate of Federal Bureaux of Investigations as the Chief Executive Officer. PILEMA, in conjunction with the University of South Africa would award certificates to graduates.

PILEMA situated at Bubuashie, Accra would also run short courses for top management personnel and people with specialised interest in preventing and detecting crime in their work environment. Inaugurating the council, chaired by her Lordship Mrs Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo, a Court of Appeal Judge, Mr Justice Acquah said the ceremony marked the beginning of a new era in the quest for a better and effective system of criminal justice in the country.

According to the Chief Justice, crime control posed a major challenge to governments, including Ghana and reiterated the need to set up a committee to thoroughly review Ghana's criminal justice so that, "it becomes responsive to the emergence of sophisticated crimes in a technological and global world."

Mr Justice Acquah noted that while globalisation and technology was bringing great improvement in the life of individuals and institutions, "it has at the same time contributed very much not only to the increase in crime but also a much sophisticated techniques in the planning and execution of most crimes."

"The nature and complexity of these development and inventions have thus punctuated the suitability of applying some traditional concepts of crime to the prosecution and conviction of crimes emerging out of these developments."

Quoting Professor Mensa- Bonsu of the University of Ghana's presentation on criminal justice, the Chief Justice pointed out those concepts such as "property," "interference" "appropriation" upon which many criminal laws ruled on property had been undermined by technological development, rendering it antiquated and flat-footed in the race of sophisticated crimes.

He therefore urged the institute not to encage itself in the teaching and propagation of abstract metaphysical theories in the various concepts of criminal but fashion its curricula to address relevant practical problems facing society.

"I expect the institute to avail its services to the society and in particular to various institutions involved in the criminal justice administration

Mr. Justice Acquah also challenged the institute to assist government and Parliament with its researches and findings to enhance the design and formulation of criminal administration policies and legislation. Mr Kweku Ansah Asare, Director Ghana School of Law, who chaired, suggested the inclusion of philosophers and psychologists in the council.