Teach judges Chinese to tackle galamsey cases involving foreigners – Supreme Court nominee

Supreme Court nominee, Justice Philip Bright Mensah, has proposed that judges stationed in illegal mining hotspots be trained in the Chinese language to overcome communication barriers when prosecuting foreign nationals involved in galamsey.

Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Justice Mensah noted that many of the foreigners arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities do not speak English, thereby complicating the prosecution process.

“When these foreigners are arrested, they either do not understand English or refuse to speak it, making prosecution difficult,” he told the committee.

“If judges understand Chinese, we will not need to rely heavily on interpreters, who sometimes introduce their own complications.”

Justice Mensah acknowledged the importance of interpreters in legal proceedings but argued that their involvement can at times affect the outcome of cases.

“It is not just about language. It is also about the accuracy of what is being said and whether the interpretation is trustworthy. If a judge understands what the accused person is saying directly, it improves the process,” he added.

His remarks were in response to questions during his vetting regarding the judiciary’s handling of cases involving foreign nationals implicated in illegal mining.

Although Ghana’s mining laws stipulate stringent penalties for offenders, public perception remains that enforcement—particularly against foreign nationals—has been inconsistent and weak.