A US state department report has said some Ghanaian judges took bribes to render cases in favour of the bribe payer.
According to the report, Some Ghanaian judges also deliberately lose dockets or delay cases after they have been induced.
“While the constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, the judiciary was subject to unlawful influence and corruption.
“Judicial officials reportedly accepted bribes to expedite or postpone cases, ‘lose’ records, or issue favourable rulings for the payer of the bribe”, the report said.
It further noted: “A judicial complaints unit within the Ministry of Justice headed by a retired Supreme Court justice addressed complaints from the public, such as unfair treatment by a court or judge, unlawful arrest or detention, missing trial dockets, delayed trials, and rendering of judgments, and bribery of judges.”
The report which gives an account of human rights issues in Ghana with a focus on 2021, noted even though the government of Ghana generally respects the judgements from the court, judges come under “unlawful influence and corruption”.
Below are some conclusions from the report
The constitution and law provide for the right to a fair hearing, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right.
Criminal hearings must be public unless the court orders them closed in the interest of public morality, public safety, public order, defence, the welfare of persons younger than age 18, protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings, and as necessary or expedient where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.
Defendants are presumed innocent and have the right to be informed promptly and in detail of the charges against them, with the free assistance of an interpreter as necessary.
Defendants have the right to a fair and public trial without undue delay, but trials were often delayed.
Defendants have the right to be present at their trials, be represented by an attorney, and have one provided at public expense if unable to pay. Most indigent accused persons, however, represented themselves in court.
The Legal Aid Commission represented some defendants in criminal cases. Although the law provides for a Public Defender Division, the government did not establish it.
Defendants also have the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare their defence, present witnesses and evidence, and confront prosecution or plaintiff witnesses.
