Ghana Dismisses Judges Guilty Of Bribery Charges

Twenty judges and magistrates have been sacked in Ghana
after being found guilty of bribery. The dismissals followed a thorough
investigation into allegations of corruption in the judiciary.

In August, a journalist revealed that he had evidence
showing judges demanding bribes and sex to influence judgements in court cases.
The revelation however shocked Ghanaians and threw the judiciary into ‘confusion’.

Announcing the sackings, the chief justice said she wanted
to assure the public that the judicial council, the regulatory body for judges,
would take “prompt and resolute” action to “redeem” the
image of the judiciary.

Judicial council secretary Justice Alex Poku Acheampong said
some of the sacked judges had been stripped of their benefits.

However, the benefits of other judges had been retained,
after they had shown show remorse and had apologised “profusely” for
bringing the judiciary into disrepute, he added.

Ghanaian journalist Sammy Darko says many people feel the
judges got off lightly, and are demanding that they be prosecuted.