Judiciary scandal not on GBA's agenda at conference

The latest corruption exposé in Ghana’s judiciary that has generated hue and cry in the past week will not feature at the annual conference of the Ghana Bar Association which opens today, Monday morning.

Over the years, the conference has become an avenue for discussing problems affecting the legal profession, the nation - political, social, educational, economic - and international matters in order to make decisions on them.

Checks by tv3network.com revealed the issue is not part of the official agenda that have been tabled for discussions during the five-day conference that will see the best in the country’s legal profession gather under one roof.

Thus, barring any last minute change in programme, the conference will be silent on the matter, particularly in view of the fact that it is sub-judice.

However, our sources say the Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, Attorney General Marietta Brew Appiah- Oppong and the President of the Bar Association, Nene Amegatcher who will be addressing the participants, are likely to touch on the alleged corruption scandal.

Currently, the judiciary is on legal recess hence majority of the lawyers have not had the opportunity to discuss the matter that has generated headlines in the last week.

Today’s gathering will thus offer the participants, mainly lawyers and judges from across the country, the forum to discuss and share their views on the matter among themselves.

The exposé by the award-winning ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has prompted a judicial inquiry to establish a prima facie case against 12 High Court judges who allegedly took bribes to influence their judgements.

The High Court judges who were given 48 hours to submit their responses to the allegation have up to close of today to do so for the processes to begin.

Anas, whose previous investigative works have been commended and some resulted in the prosecution of some people for various offences, has been given immunity from criminal and civil prosecution by the State.

Already, some of the lower court judges have begun legal processes at the High Court to stop Anas from broadcasting the recent documentary exposing the justices' in the bribery scandal.

They are also challenging the decision by the Judicial Council to investigate the issues on the basis of procedural errors.