Criminal Responsibility and the Insanity Defence in Ghana: The Examination of Legal Standards and Assessment Issues

Abstract

Jurisdictions across the world have promulgated legal standards for determining criminal responsibility and for invoking the insanity defence in criminal proceedings. At the moment, the literature on this contentious yet interesting topical issue is inundated with studies from western countries, predominantly the United States and Europe. There is little information on the insanity defence and criminal responsibility standards in sub-Saharan African countries whose justice and governance systems are by-products of colonisation. To address this research lacuna, this manuscript broadly focuses on and elucidates the legal standards for establishing criminal responsibility and most importantly the insanity defence in Ghana. The origin of the insanity defence standard and its contrast to standards in the United States jurisdictions is examined briefly. Issues relating to the prescribed procedure for insanity determination, particularly assessment, are also highlighted succinctly. We conclude by recommending refinement of the existing standards given the changing and developing medico-legal knowledge.

Key words:

• criminal responsibility
• forensic assessment
• Ghana
• insanity defence
• legal standard

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Erratum

Notes

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3. Zapf, Roesch and Pirelli (n 1).

4. Zapf, Roesch and Pirelli (n 1).

5. J Muslim and K Chaleby, ‘The Insanity Defence in Iraq’ (2007) 2 Journal of Muslim Mental Health 57.

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8. Ghana Statistical Service, ‘Ghana 2010 Population Census’ <http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/2010phc/Census2010_Summary_report_of_final_results.pdf> accessed 2 September 2012.

9. Judicial Service of Ghana, ‘History of Judicial Service Before and After Independence’ (2014) <http://www.judicial.gov.gh/index.php/history/summary> accessed 16 October 2014.

10. Judicial Service of Ghana (n 9).

11. Ogloff, Roberts and Roesch (n 7).

12. Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) ss 18–21.

13. S Adjorlolo and H Chan, ‘The Controversy of Defining Serial Murder: Revisited’ (2014) 19 Aggression and Violent Behavior 486.

14. Ogloff, Roberts and Roesch (n 7) 164.

15. Regina v M'Naghten (1843) 10 Cl & Fin [200], [210].

16. Ogloff, Roberts and Roesch (n 7) 164.

17. R Seidman, ‘Insanity as a Defence under the Criminal Code’ (1964) 1 (1) University of Ghana Law Journal 42, 46.

18. Seidman (n 17) 43.

19. Seidman (n 17) 43.

20. A Fiadjoe, ‘Insane Delusion: A Critique of R Seidman's Article’ (1965) 2 (1) University of Ghana Law Journal 74.

21. Ogloff, Roberts and Roesch (n 7) 164.

22. Ogloff, Roberts and Roesch (n 7) 164.

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29. Criminal Code 1960 (Ghana), section 27(b).

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34. Litwack (n 32).

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36. Seidman (n 17) 47.

37. Seidman (n 17) 47.

38. Fiadjoe (n 20).

39. Republic v Grumah (1957) 2 WALR 225 (WACA).

40. Seidman (n 17).

41. Fiadjoe (n 20).

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47. Kalmbach and Lyons (n 43) 15.

48. S Adjorlolo, ‘Can Teleneuropsychology Help Meet the Neuropsychological Needs of Western Africans? The Case of Ghana’ (2015) Applied Neuropsychology: Adult 1.

49. McSherry (n 6).

50. P Gates, ‘Competency v. Responsibility: Competing Standards, Interests and the Administration of Justice’ (2003) 3 (1) Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice 79.