Demonstration of Online, Desktop CTS for Feedback: USAID/Ghana Justice Sector Reform Case Tracking System Activity

The CTS Activity will improve Ghana's ability to track criminal cases from their introduction into the system to their prosecution, trial, and sentencing in the courts, and execution of the sentence in prison, improving information sharing and coordination among Ghana's law enforcement and judicial authorities and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness in investigating and prosecuting criminal cases of all types, especially those related to corruption, border security, maritime security, and cybercrime. The project has three objectives: develop a comprehensive design and sustainable roll-out process for an integrated CTS for the Ghana criminal justice sector, implement a testing phase and identify the requirements for the sustainable use and expansion of the integrated CTS, and improve procedures and policies to strengthen change management, coordination, and communication across key justice-sector institutions that sustain the use of an integrated CTS. The CTS Activity is implemented by Chemonics International, in conjunction with subcontractors Inter-regional Bridge Group and Transnational Development Associates. Software design and coding for the CTS is well ahead of schedule, with demonstrations beginning in June 2018, five months earlier than originally planned. Multiple demonstrations were undertaken, including two that brought together staff and leadership from across the six key stakeholder agencies (KSAs), along with one demonstration per KSA that demonstrated their KSA-specific data-entry modules. Participants across all demonstrations provided useful feedback and commented positively on the progress that has been made and the team's depth of understanding of the criminal justice system processes. Initial demonstration for USAID/Ghana was held on June 13th, followed by a demonstration held at the US Embassy on September 4th, which included USAID and US Embassy personnel, as well as officials from other international actors. The CTS Technical Committee met on September 6th and received a demonstration of the online, desktop application, providing a clearer understanding of the integration across KSAs and opportunities for increased collaboration and communication. Self-guided demonstration by USAID/Ghana was conducted on September 28th, and KSA-specific demonstrations were held for LAS, GPS, EOCO, Ghana Prisons Service, DPP, and Judicial Service. The feedback from GoG staff and leadership and plans to integrate that feedback into future work are detailed in Section 4 of this report. A significant number of demonstrations were undertaken in Accra, and future demonstrations will include anticipated end-users in pilot regions and higher-level KSA officials to secure final feedback and buy-in. The CTS Activity team has made significant progress since the project's inception, and the system has the potential to offer increased collaboration and communication across KSAs.