Ghana’s justice process can unintentionally turn accused persons into public spectacles, often at the expense of their dignity and mental well-being. This was evident when Mama Pat (Agradaa) was rushed into the Amasaman Court—surrounded by officers, fully covered to avoid cameras, and hurried through the premises in an attempt to shield her from public view.

Scenes like this have become routine in many high-profile cases. Yet the implications go beyond logistics; they touch on psychiatric vulnerability, holistic well-being, and the broader question of human dignity.

From a mental-health perspective, these moments carry real consequences. Recent psychological research published in the Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology in 2024 found that public shaming can sharply increase anxiety, emotional distress, depression, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and even suicidal thoughts.

This is particularly troubling because global health studies consistently show that people in custody already face higher rates of serious mental illness. A major review in The Lancet Public Health in 2024 and another international analysis in 2025 confirmed elevated levels of depression, psychosis, and PTSD among prison populations worldwide.

For individuals with such vulnerabilities, being paraded before cameras is not merely uncomfortable—it can be a deeply destabilizing psychological event. Decades of research into the psychology of shame, including work by leading scholars like June Tangney and Ronda Dearing, shows that public humiliation can trigger emotional withdrawal, confusion, and impaired self-regulation.

These responses directly affect the fairness of legal proceedings. A defendant entering court already overwhelmed by fear or humiliation may struggle to understand the process or communicate effectively with their lawyer. This undermines due process and weakens the constitutional promise of dignity.

To be clear, Ghana’s 1992 Constitution requires that justice be delivered publicly. But public justice does not require public humiliation. Around the world, courts are rethinking how to uphold openness while protecting vulnerable defendants from unnecessary psychological harm. Trauma-informed justice—an approach that considers the emotional and mental health effects of legal processes, is becoming a global standard.

One practical reform Ghana could adopt is the use of virtual or teleconferencing court hearings. Legal scholars have noted that when video hearings are properly implemented, they preserve fairness while reducing stress, logistical delays, and the confrontational environment of crowded court corridors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana experimented with virtual hearings, and these demonstrated that digital justice is not only possible but effective.

A modernized Ghanaian approach could include:

• Allowing optional virtual appearances, especially for defendants with mental-health vulnerabilities.

• Giving judges the discretion to approve virtual participation based on clinical assessments.

• Preserving open justice through controlled livestreams rather than chaotic filming on court premises.

• Incorporating psychiatric safeguards so mental-health professionals can advise when virtual appearances are appropriate.

• Establishing rules to prevent degrading public images of defendants and ensuring media coverage focuses on legal proceedings—not spectacles.

The Agradaa incident should encourage national reflection. Public shaming does not strengthen justice. It rather weakens it. A humane, evidence-based, technologically supported system would protect both the dignity of the accused and the integrity of the courts.

Virtual justice reform is not about shielding people from accountability. It is about ensuring that, in the pursuit of justice, we do not inflict avoidable psychological harm.

Ghana has an opportunity to lead the continent by embracing reforms that are trauma-informed, constitutionally sound, and aligned with global best practices.

The writer, Edward Ohene Kye, is a National Policy Analyst