Access to Legal Education Programmes for Youth Court Participants in Ghanaian Cities and Morocco: A Comparative Study

The implementation of legal education programmes for youth court participants is a critical aspect of juvenile justice systems in Ghanaian cities and Morocco. These programmes aim to provide young offenders with the knowledge necessary to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the consequences of their actions. The study employs a comparative design with mixed-methods approaches including surveys, interviews, and archival data analysis from youth court records in four cities: two in Ghana (Accra and Kumasi) and two in Morocco (Casablanca and Rabat). Findings indicate that while both regions offer legal education programmes to youth offenders, the proportion of participants who complete these courses is notably higher in Ghanaian cities compared to Moroccan cities. This suggests potential differences in programme accessibility and participant engagement. This study highlights significant variations in access to legal education programmes for youth court participants between Ghanaian cities and Moroccan cities, with implications for policy development and resource allocation in juvenile justice systems. Recommendations include the need for further research into specific barriers contributing to lower completion rates in Morocco and exploring innovative strategies to improve programme accessibility and effectiveness across both regions.