Illustration: Judges in Ghana

Twenty judges and magistrates of the Circuit Court previously suspended by the Ghana Judicial Council, for allegedly taking bribe to subvert justice have been dismissed.

Their dismissal followed the recommendation by the committee constituted by the Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, to investigate the bribery allegation brought against them.

The Chief Justice, who announced the dismissal at a press conference, explained that they violated the constitution of the Republic of Ghana, just as she vowed to uphold the integrity of the judiciary.

Some of the affected judges and magistrates were dismissed without benefits, while some will be entitled to benefits.

Initially, 22 judges and magistrates of the Circuit Court were suspended following the bribery allegation against them. One of them, whose name was mistakenly included on the list, was exonerated. Another one was reprimanded and reinstated by the five member committee headed by Justice Sophia Adiyira.

The judges were among over 130 judicial staff implicated in the bribery saga, following an expose by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas about the rot in the judiciary. They were caught in a video produced by Anas collecting bribes in order to free suspects.

Ten of the 12 judges of the High Court also implicated in the scandal are currently under suspension, while still being investigated by the disciplinary panel set up by the Chief Justice.

*Reported by Daily Trust