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I’m appalled by Anas’ expose’ – Franklin Cudjoe

An investigative piece by Anas Aremeyaw Anas has established complicity of some 180 officials of the Judicial Service caught on camera taking bribes and extorting money from litigants.

Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Ghana

President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, has expressed disappointment at the alleged scandal that has hit the nation’s judiciary.

An investigative piece by Anas Aremeyaw Anas has established complicity of some 180 officials of the Judicial Service caught on camera taking bribes and extorting money from litigants. Thirty-four (34) of the suspected culprits are said to be judges at the High, the Circuit and the District courts.

Speaking on Citi FM’s , Mr Cudjoe indicated that he was saddened by the development having defended the impartiality of Ghana’s judicial system some years back.

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“I am a bit angry because I recall when the Argentine ship Ara Libertad dropped here and the high court pounded it through Ace Ankoma. Some of us also wrote in very irrespective publications especially to Argentina trying to tell them that they cannot compare themselves to us because our legal system was top notched. I recall that Ambassador, Susana Cerutti who happened to be the legal representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Argentina rubbished our courts. She clearly said that she thinks our court cannot be impartial so they were taking the matter to the International Court of Arbitration. Some of us wrote angrily, in fact, comparing the judicial system in Ghana to that of Argentina because we knew that it was a complete sham in Argentina at least from 1947-1974,” he recounted.

“I’m just saying that I’m appalled because when some of us have increasingly tried to defend the state of Ghana, especially in this matter and then you have a situation like this, it dampens your spirit and I do hope that none of what would be seen or has been seen [in the video evidence] indeed is true,” the IMANI boss added.

Anas sent the two petitions: one dated 31st August and addressed to the president; the other on 2nd September 2015 to the Chief Justice. The journalist in accordance with Article 146 asked the president to initiate impeachment proceedings against the High Court judges he says took bribes to pervert justice.

22 circuit court judges named in the petition have been suspended after a crucial meeting of the council to consider measures against them. However, 14 of them have sued the Judicial Council, challenging the processes leading their suspension.

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READ MORE: > "Corrupt" judges named

Titled ‘Ghana in the Eyes of God – Epic of Injustice’, the piece of investigative work will be premiered at the Accra International Conference Centre on September 22 and 23, 2015.

Pressure is, however mounting on Anas Aremeyaw Anas, to halt the planned premiering of a damaging video.

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