A High Court Judge, Mr Justice Winfred Kpentey, has stated that corruption exists in the judicial system of the country. "I must state that there is corruption, not a perceived one, in our judicial system and if something is going wrong and you keep mute, you end up contributing to its deterioration," he emphasized.

Mr Justice Kpentey was contributing to a public forum here on perceived corruption in the judiciary and other alleged malpractices within the judicial system of Ghana, here last Friday. Participants included traditional leaders, lawyers, magistrates, heads of department, police, and members of the public.

The forum was organized by the Parliamentary Selected Committee on Judiciary in collaboration with the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the promotion of democratic in Ghana.

It was aimed at providing an avenue for the committee to seek the views of civil society and other relevant agencies on how to resolve the problems of the judiciary to make it play its in consolidating the country's democratic process.

"Even within the priesthood there are criminals. No one is good except God," the High Court Judge said. Corruption, according to him, was not only limited to judges but also other staff of the Judiciary, namely registrars, court clerks, bailiffs and typists.

He cited an instance where he, then a magistrate in Kumasi, had to cause the arrest of a court clerk who took money in his name from a litigant to soften his case for him. Almost all the 15 speakers held similar views that it was not only the judges who were corrupt but also the staff of the Judiciary Service.

A contributor, Mr I.K. Baffoe, narrated a case involving his store boy who stole ?64 million and the case had since 1999 been adjourned 79 times. The suspect, according to him had admitted stealing only ?18 million but the case had not been heard since it was taken to court.

Other speakers condemned litigants who offered money to judges. They also asked lawyers to abide by their code of ethics, and avoid delayed, which could pave the way for litigants to get in touch with judges.

The Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffuor, in his welcome address, said the government was convinced that the role of the courts in enhancing respect for the rule of law and fundamental human rights as well as providing an efficient, honest, independent forum for the resolution of commercial and investment disputes was paramount.