The fate of those suspects on remand in the Sunyani Central Prison, who have been billed for trial during the year?s criminal assizes in the Brong Ahafo Region, is uncertain.

This is because there is no legal officer in the region to prosecute them. Statistics from the Regional Police Command show that there was 85 suspects on remand. Twenty-five of them have been billed for appearances in the criminal assizes on charges such as murder, armed robbery and rape. The warrants of the rest have expired.

However, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has given the Regional Chief State Attorney, Mr B. Cab-Beyuo, who is supposed to prosecute the cases, additional responsibilities in the Northern Region.

Speaking to newsmen in an interview, Mr Cab-Beyuo said he was prosecuting the former District Chief Executives (DCEs) of Zabzugu-Tatale and Saboba Chereponi, who had been charged with misappropriating funds while they were in office.

He stated, ?As I will not be in a position to attend court in the Brong-Ahafo Region, this means automatically that these trials will not come on this year.? He explained that staffing had been a major problem facing the office, and that he had just two lawyers who were National Servicemen.

Reacting to the situation, Mr Kwaku Asoma-Cheremeh, a lawyer, appealed to the Attorney-General to provide the Brong Ahafo Region with a legal officer to help determine the fate of the suspects.