| Overview : Access to justice is a fundamental human right guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The Constitution of Ghana, 1992 contains very elaborate provisions on access to criminal justice. In particular, it recognizes the complexity of the criminal justice process and the need for assistance from a lawyer right from the outset. With particular reference to the criminal justice process which usually begins with the arrest of a suspect, the Constitution, per article 14 (2), requires that: “14 (2) A person who is arrested, restricted or detained shall be informed immediately; in the language, he understands, of the reason for his arrest, restriction or detention and of his right to a lawyer of his choice.” It is also provided in the Constitution that the arresting authority has a maximum of forty-eight hours within which to release the person or put him before a court. Not only does the Constitution recognize the fact that the arrested person can be discriminated against on grounds of his social or economic status in article 17 (2) but also, as part of the fair trial guarantees under article 19, he has the right to defend himself in person or by a lawyer of his choice. To ensure that the arrested person enjoys the constitutional rights stated above among others the Constitution provides for legal aid under article 294............................................ | 
