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Ghana suspends seven high court judges amid bribery allegations | |
(2 days later) | |
Ghana’s government has suspended seven high court judges implicated in allegations of bribery stemming from a documentary made by an investigative journalist. | |
Related: Ghana's top undercover journalist masters disguise to expose corruption | Related: Ghana's top undercover journalist masters disguise to expose corruption |
The decision was part of a response to a three-hour film first screened in the capital in September that caused an uproar because it showed judges accepting bribe money through intermediaries. | The decision was part of a response to a three-hour film first screened in the capital in September that caused an uproar because it showed judges accepting bribe money through intermediaries. |
Ghana’s judiciary is revered for its efficacy and impartiality and is viewed as a bulwark of a society that prides itself on its reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and peaceful democracies. | Ghana’s judiciary is revered for its efficacy and impartiality and is viewed as a bulwark of a society that prides itself on its reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and peaceful democracies. |
But the documentary put Chief Justice Georgina Wood and other judicial leaders under pressure to show a forceful public response. | But the documentary put Chief Justice Georgina Wood and other judicial leaders under pressure to show a forceful public response. |
“Their suspension follows the establishment of a prima facie case of stated misbehaviour against them by the Hon Lady Chief Justice [Wood],” said a statement from the country’s judicial service announcing a decision by the vice-president, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, based on advice from the judicial council. | “Their suspension follows the establishment of a prima facie case of stated misbehaviour against them by the Hon Lady Chief Justice [Wood],” said a statement from the country’s judicial service announcing a decision by the vice-president, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, based on advice from the judicial council. |
The council previously suspended 22 junior judges who appeared in the video and investigated the conduct of high court judges to see if there was a case for their impeachment. | The council previously suspended 22 junior judges who appeared in the video and investigated the conduct of high court judges to see if there was a case for their impeachment. |
Some of the judges have denied wrongdoing and filed a challenge in court, saying their suspension had no legal basis because documents relating to the video that were submitted by the journalist were not made available to them. | Some of the judges have denied wrongdoing and filed a challenge in court, saying their suspension had no legal basis because documents relating to the video that were submitted by the journalist were not made available to them. |
In 2013 the supreme court dismissed an election challenge by the political opposition, which had sought to annul the re-election of President John Mahama the previous year. | In 2013 the supreme court dismissed an election challenge by the political opposition, which had sought to annul the re-election of President John Mahama the previous year. |
The ruling, which followed months of testimony, was accepted by the opposition and the case and its outcome was viewed as a testament to the judiciary’s authority. | The ruling, which followed months of testimony, was accepted by the opposition and the case and its outcome was viewed as a testament to the judiciary’s authority. |
• This article was amended on 7 October 2015. The original copy said Ghana had 12 high court judges. This reference was incorrect and has been removed. |
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