Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood has promised to “swiftly and decisively apply appropriate sanctions” if judges implicated in the bribery scandal are found guilty.
Georgina Wood was at pains to stress that bad judges, lawyers and court clerks cannot be allowed to derail the efforts of those zealous to protect the integrity of the judiciary.
Referring to a judicial scandal involving 34 judges who were allegedly caught in a video collecting bribes, Georgina Wood lamented that “justice was wounded last week”.
She told lawyers gathered at an annual conference of the Ghana Bar Association, the allegations against the judges have left a “heavy dark shadow on the legal community” and “deepened long held suspicions” in the public about corruption in the judiciary.
Nonetheless, the judiciary in Ghana is “shock-resistant and certainly resilient” because the scandal is an opportunity to cleanse the institution.
The implicated judges will “face the wrath of the law and bear the full force of blind justice that knows no favouritism” Georgina Wood insisted.
People rely on judges as the last point of call between themselves and government or between themselves and others, she explained
Justice, she said, must therefore be discharged in a way that builds the confidence of people seeking their services.
“Corruption is the exact opposite of rule of law,” the Chief Justice reminded the lawyers, noting that not only does corruption hinder rule of law, but also undermines the judicial system.
The judiciary like any other working environment suffers the reality of corruption, a global problem, which should be tackled head-on, she remarked.
She further opined that corruption in any aspect in society is contemptible but particular abhorring in the judiciary.
She is hopeful having a correct understanding of the love of God would greatly assist the nation to bring corruption under control.
Mr. Georgina Wood conceded that the scandal that has rocked the judiciary has robbed the judiciary of its institutional integrity. However, she said the exposé should provide the silver lining to clean and sanitise the judicial system.
