Judges have been warned to uphold the highest standards of integrity while serving the country, abstaining from conduct that can bring the judiciary into discredit, according to the public relations officer of the Ghana Bar Association, Saviour Kudze.
His statement referred to the "2021 Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey" that was carried out by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The top three types of public officials who took the biggest cash bribes in 2021, according to the study, were immigration officers, prosecutors, judges or magistrates, and Lands Commission personnel.
Lands Commission employees received the average biggest cash bribe ($1, 669), followed by attorneys, judges, or magistrates ($1, 208), and immigration agents ($950).
Saviour Kudze responded to the study by stating that it was quite shocking that bribery was still widespread inside the judiciary, particularly in light of investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas' recent stinging exposé of corruption in the judiciary.
However, he is sure that a small number of judges and magistrates, not the majority, are responsible for the corrupt behaviour. Since the judiciary is a human institution, mistakes will always occur. What is concerning, though, is the given proportion. Why do we need to keep doing this? However, in my opinion, the key factor is the people involved. On JoyNews' PM Express, he added, "But I can also say that I am not certain that many judges would take bribes, but individuals will approach them.
He stated that judges must uphold high standards of integrity in order to combat the negative public opinion of judges and break the arm of corruption.
"You applied to be a judge; you were interviewed; you were given an appointment letter; your terms of contract are spelled out; the only thing I expect of you is improvement in your conditions of service and nothing else because people were unable to solve a problem, which is why they were forced to resort to violence," the employer said.
You must behave appropriately since you are the demigod or mini-god on Earth. Integrity is crucial. According to a quote by Warren Buffet, you should look for three qualities in a person: intelligence, enthusiasm, and integrity. If the final quality is missing, ignore the other two. And that is what I believe our judges need to be considering, he added.
But like I said, I don't really think that many judges and magistrates will ask for bribes, he said. Therefore, it is us lawyers - the intermediaries and the court users - who will attempt to persuade them. However, it is up to them [the judges] to contact the police if such efforts are made; this is where their moral character will be tested.
Because if you're a man of integrity and you swear that I won't accept bribes, I'll let the law handle any attempts to bribe me, he continued, People are aware that bribery is illegal, so why would you be so brazen as to approach a judge? Would a judge have the guts to demand a bribe? But, temptation exists so that others may approach you; however, if you are weak, you will succumb to it.
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