Ghana has suspended 22 of the 34 judges and magistrates accused of taking bribes and extorting money, in the biggest corruption scandal to hit its judiciary.
Some 22 of the Ghanaian judges allegedly caught on camera asking for bribes have been shown the videos at the start of the investigation, judicial sources have told the BBC.
The 22 will remain suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary inquiry.
The hearing has been held behind closed doors at the Supreme Court, the judges' responses have not been made public.
The inquiry, ordered by Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has started in the capital, Accra. It is being held behind closed doors.
A total of 34 judges and magistrates have been accused after a two-year investigation by a local journalist.
The accused have not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
It is the biggest scandal in the history of Ghana's judiciary.
The BBC's Sammy Darko reports from Accra that a total of 180 court officials are facing dismissal procedures, in a case that has gripped the attention of Ghanaians.
The BBC's Sammy Darko reports from Accra that a total of 180 court officials are facing dismissal procedures, in a case that has gripped the attention of Ghanaians.
They include the 22 lower court judges and magistrates who had been suspended, and 12 High Court judges, he says.
The 22 lower court judges and magistrates have been suspended pending the investigation.
The chief justice had started the process of determining whether there was a "prima facie" case against the 12, said judicial secretary Justice Alex Poku-Agheampong in a statement.
The 12 accused High Court judges have submitted their written responses to the accusations.
The other 22 had been suspended after the judicial council wrote to them about the allegations they faced, and received a response, he added.
Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood will now examine their responses before deciding whether to open a formal investigation into the accusations, in which case, they would also be suspended, our correspondent says.
Their suspension would stay in place until a "final determination of the matter", Justice Poku-Agheampong said.
He says each of the accused judges has only been shown the portions concerning them.
Our reporter says the disciplinary inquiry is being held behind closed doors at the Supreme Court building.
The accused judges attended the hearings accompanied by their lawyers.
The judges and magistrates are present with their lawyers, he adds.
Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas says he has nearly 500 hours of video evidence on tape, which had been handed over to the chief justice.
The chief justice acted after a two-year investigation by a top Ghanaian journalist who says he has evidence showing that judges and magistrates had taken bribes and extorted money.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas said he had nearly 500 hours of video evidence on tape, which had been handed over to the chief justice.
The attorney-general has granted him immunity under the whistle-blower act to pursue the story.
The attorney-general has granted him immunity under the whistle-blower act to pursue the story.
At the scene: Sammy Darko BBC Africa, Accra
Our correspondent says the issue now is whether Mr Anas should go ahead and broadcast the video as he has said he will.
The disciplinary committee has been hearing the side of the implicated judges. Those from the lower courts are here to defend themselves. So far we are yet to know their responses to the allegations.
Some fear showing it will gravely undermine the authority of the court, he says.
The High Court judges are also here. They have up to the end of the day to formally respond to the allegations. We are told they have been shown the video recordings for the first time. We do not know yet how they have responded to the allegations.
Everything is being conducted in camera. Very little detail is being given to the public. The judiciary says it will speak as and when they progress with investigations.
The issue now is whether Mr Anas should go ahead and broadcast the video as he has said he will. Some fear showing it will gravely undermine the authority of the court.
