Ghana's justice system is intact - Mahama assures

The recent unearthing of corruption within the judiciary does not consign the whole judicial system to rot, President John Mahama has said.

He has, thus, urged Ghanaians not to lose faith in the entire judiciary as an institution.

“This is not a problem of our judicial system as a whole.

“This is not something to make us lose our faith in the judicial system,” Mr Mahama wrote on social media, adding: “I urge every one of you to keep faith in the system. Justice will always prevail!”

A two-year investigative work by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, captured some 34 judges on video either, allegedly negotiating for, or taking bribes, to warp justice.

The Chief Justice and Judicial Council have set up a five-member committee to start investigating the matter. Some of the judges have filed writs in court to stop the probe and the impeachment processes started against them.

Despite the widespread public outrage at the judges, Mr Mahama said those caught on tape deserve a fair hearing, even though they may have denied others same.

“We must also understand that this is a problem of some people who may or may not be guilty: it’s for the investigators and the judges to decide,” he said.

He said even though what has been uncovered shows that “some people, judges, judicial officers and policemen, seemed to be willing to transgress the principles of fair justice, to their own interest, such persons should be subjected to what they, perhaps, denied others: a fair investigation and a fair trial. Sometimes the principles are to be re-learned the hard way because justice should always be served.”

He expressed confidence in the judicial system saying: “The investigations that began these days prove beyond doubt that our justice system is intact and working, served by many people with integrity and determination.”