Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo says she believes widespread claims of corruption in the judiciary are more a matter of perception than reality.
Appearing on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday with host George Wiafe, she addressed concerns about public confidence in the courts.
Asked whether the belief that the judiciary is corrupt is perception or reality, she responded: “I would like to think it is a perception.”
Her comments come amid recurring public claims that cases can be influenced through middlemen who promise access to judges.
When the host cited situations where people claim, “give me this, and I’ll go and see this judge for you, ” as for this case, we win it, don’t worry,” she acknowledged that such talk exists.
“You may hear some of these comments outside, and sometimes that’s because clearly, the case is a lousy one, so you know where it will go.”
She recounted a striking episode during her time on the Supreme Court.
“I remember being told that somebody said they had bought all of us at the Supreme Court in a particular case, and they told the person they had bought all the other judges.”
According to her, the claim went further. “So they should that person should convey something to me, so that, because all my colleagues have already taken.”
Sophia Akuffo’s response was blunt, stating, “So I told the person who came to, and I said, Listen, tell the person that she’s very stupid.”
She explained her reasoning. “Because, if obviously she knows she doesn’t have a good case, and that is why she wants to buy so many judges.”
She said the alleged amounts involved made no sense.
“And for a case, you know, she said she had given 10 million cedis, those were the million days she had given 10 million to each of the others.”
The panel had seven judges. “So it was a case with seven of us on it. So he’s already coughed out 6 million, 60 million.”
She questioned the logic behind the alleged payments.
“And I said she, the reason I was saying she was stupid is that the whole value of the case, her case, was about 70 something million.”
Her position was firm.
“And I said, I don’t want her money for any reason and for any under any circumstances, but in any event, I’ll give her free advice.”
She advised that if any money had changed hands, it should be retrieved.
“If she’s given any out any money, she should go and collect it and then maybe, if she loses the case… because you don’t chase after 70 million with 60 million, it was just too stupid.”
For her, such stories often collapse under scrutiny. “You know, people talk, and sometimes it is not true.”
“And in that case, it really wasn’t true; she was just flying a kite, and people do that.”
Still, she acknowledged the difficulty in proving corruption. “But the devil himself knows not the mind of man as Shakespeare, yes.”
Despite suspicions that often trail the courts, she maintains an optimistic stance. “So, but I’m always an optimist, and I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt.”
She ended with a stark analogy. “Because Corruption is like adultery. Only the two people know what they’ve been up to. Everybody else can suspect.”
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com