Section 27—Establishment of Child Panels.
There shall be established in each district such number of Child Panels as the District Assembly may consider necessary.
Section 28—Functions of Child Panels.
A Child Panel shall have non-judicial functions to mediate in criminal and civil matters which concern a child prescribed under this Act.
Section 29—Composition of Child Panel.
(1) A Child Panel shall consist of the following persons in the relevant district—
(a) the Chairman of the Social Services Sub-Committee of a District Assembly who shall be the chairman;
(b) a member of a women's organisation;
(c) a representative of the Traditional Council;
(d) the district social worker, who shall be the secretary;
(e) a member of the Justice and Security Sub-Committee of the District Assembly; and
(f) two other citizens from the community of high moral character and proven integrity one of whom shall be all educationalist.
(2) The members of a Child Panel shall be appointed by the Minister.
(3) The tenure of office of a Child Panel shall be the same as that of the District Assembly.
Section 30—Meetings of Child Panel.
(1) A Child Panel shall meet as often as may be necessary except that a Child Panel shall meet at least once in every three months.
(2) The quorum at any meeting of a Child Panel shall be four and in the absence of the Chairman shall be chaired by a member elected by the members present from their number.
(3) Any agreement made between the parties shall be recorded by the secretary to the Child Panel.
(4) Any person with a significant interest in a matter before a Child Panel may be invited to attend and participate in its deliberations.
(5) A Child Panel shall permit a child to express his opinion and participate in any decision which affects the child's well being commensurate with the level of understanding of the child concerned.
(6) Except as otherwise provided in this Sub-Part a Child Panel shall regulate the procedure at its meetings.
Section 31—Child Panel in Civil Matters.
A Child Panel may mediate in any civil matter concerned with the rights of the child and parental duties.
Section 32—Child Panel in Criminal Matters.
(1) A Child Panel shall assist in victim-offender mediation in minor criminal matters involving a child where the circumstances of the offence are not aggravated.
(2) A Child Panel shall seek to facilitate reconciliation between the child and any person offended by the action of the child.
(3) A child appearing before a Child Panel shall be cautioned as to the implications of his action and that similar behaviour may subject him to the juvenile justice system.
(4) A Child Panel may decide to impose a community guidance order on a child with the consent of the parties concerned in the matter.
(5) A community guidance order means placing the child under the guidance and supervision of a person of good standing in the local community for a period not exceeding six months for purposes of his reform.
(6) A Child Panel may in the course of mediation propose an apology, restitution to the offended person or service by the child to the offended person.
Section 33—Family Tribunals.
(1) There shall be Family Tribunals which shall exercise the jurisdiction provided under section 35 and any other provisions of this Act.
(2) Any reference to a Family Tribunal in this Act shall be construed to mean a Community Tribunal established under the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459).
Section 34—Composition of Family Tribunal.
A Family Tribunal shall be duly constituted by a panel consisting of a Chairman and not less than two or more than four other members including a social welfare officer appointed by the Chief Justice on the recommendation of the Director of Social Welfare.
Section 35—Jurisdiction of Family Tribunal.
A Family Tribunal shall have jurisdiction in matters concerning parentage, custody, access and maintenance of children and shall exercise such other powers as are conferred on it by this Act or under any other enactment.
Section 36—Family Tribunal Sittings.
(1) A Family Tribunal shall sit either in a different building or room from that in which sittings of other courts are held, or on different days from those on which sittings of other courts are held and no person shall be present at any sitting of a Family Tribunal except—
(a) members and officers of the Family Tribunal;
(b) parties to the case before the Family Tribunal, their counsel, witnesses and other persons directly concerned in the case;
(c) the parent or guardian of the child before the Family Tribunal;
(d) probation and social welfare officers; and
(e) any other person whom the Family Tribunal authorises to be present.
(2) The Chairman of a Family Tribunal shall arrange for its sitting as often as possible to dispose of cases expeditiously.
Section 37—Procedure at Family Tribunal.
The proceedings at a Family Tribunal shall be as informal as possible and shall be by enquiry and not by adversarial procedures.
Section 38—Rights of the Child at Family Tribunal.
(1) A child shall have a right to legal representation at a Family Tribunal.
(2) A child shall have a right to give an account and express an opinion at a family Tribunal.
(3) A child's right to privacy shall be respected throughout the proceedings at a Family Tribunal.
(4) The right of appeal shall be explained to the child, guardian and parents.
Section 39—No Publication of Information on Child.
(1) No person shall publish any information that may lead to the identification of a child in any matter before a Family Tribunal except with the permission of the Family Tribunal.
(2) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ¢5 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.