Mixed reactions greet scandal at Judiciary
There are mixed reactions to the issue of whether or not the three-hour video implicating the 34 judges and magistrates should be aired.
Advertisement
While some have suggested that the video be aired on television, others are of the opinion that it will be premature to do so.
These opinions were expressed when the Daily Graphic spoke to a number of people in Accra Thursday.
‘We’re equal before the law’
Theresa Nyavor, a National Service person, said the video should be aired prior to the commencement of any investigations into the scandal.
“I believe that making the video public will help Ghanaians appreciate and understand the thorough investigations done by the ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
“But letting investigations go ahead of the airing of the video will not help people to know those involved in the corrupt practice.
“If previous investigative videos had been aired before any investigations could be initiated, it will not be fair for the one concerning judges to be delayed, since we are all equal before the law,” Ms Nyavor stated.
‘Seeing is believing’
Edward Agyeman-Duah, a journalist, said given the manipulative systems in Ghana, it would be difficult to rely solely on the committee set up by the Judicial Council to look into the scandal.
Other Trending Stories
“If members of the public do not see the video and we rely solely on the committee, something surely will go wrong along the line.
“If the citizenry watch the video, it will empower them to question the Judiciary and the government if shoddy investigations are done,” he stated.
Another National Service person, Ms Sika Mintah Afari, believed that Anas Aremeyaw Anas did thorough investigations before coming up with the video, hence the findings should be made public prior to any investigations.
“There is a saying that seeing is believing and once the people see the video, they will be in a better position to form their own opinion as to whether the judges received bribes or not,” she stated.
{youtube}TPaOo89C6fg{/youtube}
‘Independent media’
A legal practitioner, Mr George Tetteh Wayo, said the suggestion by the Judiciary for the video to be put on hold was appropriate since it intended to use its internal procedures to investigate and establish a prima facie case against the suspected judges.
“In the area of government, the principle of checks and balances should be respected. The arms of government are supposed to act independently without fear or favour.
“Article 125 of the Constitution requires the Judiciary to administer justice on behalf of the state and is supposed to be independent.
“Based on this principle of independence of the arms of government, if the media, per the exposé, decide to bring the video to the citizenry, that decision lies with the media and not the Judiciary,” he said.
He, however, argued that for the sake of public safety, order and protection, if the Judicial Council deemed it fit that holding on to the publication of the video and allowing the Judiciary to use its internal investigations by applying the necessary sanctions would serve the same purpose of uncovering and dealing with corruption and malpractices, the video should not be aired.
‘Premature airing’
Another lawyer, Mr Uche Nwosu, said making the video public would be premature, since the law stipulated that a person was innocent until proven guilty.
“If the video is put out in public and eventually some of these judges are found innocent, they would have been totally maligned and this will destroy their future and no amount of effort can restore the damage,” he said.
Advertisement
He stated that it would be better for the investigation agency to be allowed to do its investigations to determine those who were guilty to face prosecution.
“However, if the video is aired and it turns out that the council’s investigations subsequently prove some of these judges not guilty, then the media would have opened themselves up to a lawsuit.