PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ghana: Judges’ bribery scandal, politics dominate Ghana media
Accra, Ghana (PANA) – An audio and video recording by an investigative journalist of alleged bribery involving some 180 workers of the Judicial Service in Ghana, including 34 judges of the Magistrate, Circuit and High courts, and political developments in the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) were some of stories that filled the media this week.
“Bribery scandal rocks judiciary,” was the headline of the state-owned Graphic newspaper on Wednesday as information filtered through on the video and audio recording after 2 years of work by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
“It may go down in history as the single most massive bribery scandal to hit Ghana’s judiciary, as 180 officials of the Judicial Service have been caught on camera taking bribes and extorting money from litigants,” the Graphic wrote.
It said some of the culprits had also been linked to sex scandals in the three-hour edited video. Anas says he has some 500 hours of video recording.
The newspaper said Anas had been under intense pressure not to screen the video. “Those against it are of the view that it will embarrass and cripple the judicial system, while those in support hold the position that it would rather weed out the bad nuts and serve as a deterrent to anyone who intends to engage in corrupt practices in the service.”
It noted that the Judiciary was perceived to be one of the most corrupt institutions of state.
“22 lower court judges interdicted,” was the headline of the Graphic with the story saying the Judicial Service had interdicted 22 judges implicated in the scandal.
The newspaper said resignation letters tendered by some of the justices of the High Court had been turned down, adding that five of the judges were admitted at hospitals, with one suffering from a mild stroke.
It said the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice had granted immunity from prosecution and any civil action to Anas for his work under the Whistle-Blowers Act.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times also had the headline, “22 judges suspended.”
It said 22 Circuit Court judges and magistrates had been suspended following preliminary investigations by a disciplinary committee formed by the Judicial Council while the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, had begun the process to determine whether there was a prima facie case against 12 High Court Judges.
“Fear grips Judicial Service employees,” was the headline of the Ghanaian Times which reported that most staff of the Judicial Service were living in anxiety as they were uncertain about their involvement revelations on the video.
It quoted some staff as saying they were scared because they had neither watched the video nor sighted the list.
Meanwhile, the Graphic reported in a story under the headline “CJ begins probe into bribery scandal” that majority of the High Court judges implicated in the bribery scandal came face to face with the Chief Justice and selected members of the Judicial Council at a marathon meeting in Accra on Thursday in a move to establish a prima facie case against them.
In another development, on Friday, 14 of the magistrates and judges of the Circuit court implicated in the scandal dragged the Judicial Council to the Accra Fast Track High Court seeking a declaration that the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Council against them were contrary to law and/or due process.
The Graphic reported that they want a declaration that the panel constituted by the Chief Justice to institute disciplinary proceedings against them has no legal basis and is therefore null and void.
“Stop discussing NPP matters on radio- Akufo-Addo,” was the headline of the Graphic quoting the NPP’s presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, after the General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong revealed that he and the Chairman, Paul Afoko, were being sidelined in activities of the party.
Agyepong cited several instances to support his point as the internal rift in the party continues to deepen and threaten their chances of electoral success next year.
In his reaction, Nana Akufo-Addo, who has failed in two attempts to win the presidential election in 2008 and 2012, issued a caution to all members of the party to desist from discussing internal matters in the media.
The Graphic said Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his deep concern about the raging “media battle” and warned that such behaviour would affect the fortunes of the party in the run-up to the 2016 elections.
Hardly had this warning seeped in before the Council of Elders of the party waded into the matter in an action that many warn would only further deepen the division.
“NPP refers Paul Afoko to disciplinary committee,” was the headline of the Ghanaian Times which reported that the Council of Elders had referred the National Chairman, Paul Afoko, to the National Disciplinary Committee for “appropriate sanctions”.
A letter signed by the Chairman of the Council of Elders, C.K. Tedam, said the elders want “a thorough investigation into alleged constitutional breaches of Mr Afoko and appropriate recommendations to promote discipline, peace, order, harmony and progress in the party towards election 2016”.
They also want the “suspension of Mr Afoko from his office until after the 2016 general election”.
The Graphic had the headline “Council of Elders recommends Afoko’s suspension” with the story saying that the problems within the opposition NPP seem to be deepening with the National Council of Elders formally requesting the National Disciplinary Committee to suspend the party’s National Chairman from office until after the 2016 elections.
A letter signed by Mr C.K. Tedam requested the expeditious handling of the complaint in order to urgently restore peace and tranquility to the party.
They said their request would enable the party “to focus on the important issues of preparations for the 2016 general elections and not least to assuage the worries of the teeming supporters and the majority of Ghanaians who were yearning for an NPP return to turn around the fortunes of the country”.
-0- PANA MA/VAO 12Sept2015
“Bribery scandal rocks judiciary,” was the headline of the state-owned Graphic newspaper on Wednesday as information filtered through on the video and audio recording after 2 years of work by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
“It may go down in history as the single most massive bribery scandal to hit Ghana’s judiciary, as 180 officials of the Judicial Service have been caught on camera taking bribes and extorting money from litigants,” the Graphic wrote.
It said some of the culprits had also been linked to sex scandals in the three-hour edited video. Anas says he has some 500 hours of video recording.
The newspaper said Anas had been under intense pressure not to screen the video. “Those against it are of the view that it will embarrass and cripple the judicial system, while those in support hold the position that it would rather weed out the bad nuts and serve as a deterrent to anyone who intends to engage in corrupt practices in the service.”
It noted that the Judiciary was perceived to be one of the most corrupt institutions of state.
“22 lower court judges interdicted,” was the headline of the Graphic with the story saying the Judicial Service had interdicted 22 judges implicated in the scandal.
The newspaper said resignation letters tendered by some of the justices of the High Court had been turned down, adding that five of the judges were admitted at hospitals, with one suffering from a mild stroke.
It said the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice had granted immunity from prosecution and any civil action to Anas for his work under the Whistle-Blowers Act.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times also had the headline, “22 judges suspended.”
It said 22 Circuit Court judges and magistrates had been suspended following preliminary investigations by a disciplinary committee formed by the Judicial Council while the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, had begun the process to determine whether there was a prima facie case against 12 High Court Judges.
“Fear grips Judicial Service employees,” was the headline of the Ghanaian Times which reported that most staff of the Judicial Service were living in anxiety as they were uncertain about their involvement revelations on the video.
It quoted some staff as saying they were scared because they had neither watched the video nor sighted the list.
Meanwhile, the Graphic reported in a story under the headline “CJ begins probe into bribery scandal” that majority of the High Court judges implicated in the bribery scandal came face to face with the Chief Justice and selected members of the Judicial Council at a marathon meeting in Accra on Thursday in a move to establish a prima facie case against them.
In another development, on Friday, 14 of the magistrates and judges of the Circuit court implicated in the scandal dragged the Judicial Council to the Accra Fast Track High Court seeking a declaration that the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Council against them were contrary to law and/or due process.
The Graphic reported that they want a declaration that the panel constituted by the Chief Justice to institute disciplinary proceedings against them has no legal basis and is therefore null and void.
“Stop discussing NPP matters on radio- Akufo-Addo,” was the headline of the Graphic quoting the NPP’s presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, after the General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong revealed that he and the Chairman, Paul Afoko, were being sidelined in activities of the party.
Agyepong cited several instances to support his point as the internal rift in the party continues to deepen and threaten their chances of electoral success next year.
In his reaction, Nana Akufo-Addo, who has failed in two attempts to win the presidential election in 2008 and 2012, issued a caution to all members of the party to desist from discussing internal matters in the media.
The Graphic said Nana Akufo-Addo expressed his deep concern about the raging “media battle” and warned that such behaviour would affect the fortunes of the party in the run-up to the 2016 elections.
Hardly had this warning seeped in before the Council of Elders of the party waded into the matter in an action that many warn would only further deepen the division.
“NPP refers Paul Afoko to disciplinary committee,” was the headline of the Ghanaian Times which reported that the Council of Elders had referred the National Chairman, Paul Afoko, to the National Disciplinary Committee for “appropriate sanctions”.
A letter signed by the Chairman of the Council of Elders, C.K. Tedam, said the elders want “a thorough investigation into alleged constitutional breaches of Mr Afoko and appropriate recommendations to promote discipline, peace, order, harmony and progress in the party towards election 2016”.
They also want the “suspension of Mr Afoko from his office until after the 2016 general election”.
The Graphic had the headline “Council of Elders recommends Afoko’s suspension” with the story saying that the problems within the opposition NPP seem to be deepening with the National Council of Elders formally requesting the National Disciplinary Committee to suspend the party’s National Chairman from office until after the 2016 elections.
A letter signed by Mr C.K. Tedam requested the expeditious handling of the complaint in order to urgently restore peace and tranquility to the party.
They said their request would enable the party “to focus on the important issues of preparations for the 2016 general elections and not least to assuage the worries of the teeming supporters and the majority of Ghanaians who were yearning for an NPP return to turn around the fortunes of the country”.
-0- PANA MA/VAO 12Sept2015
