The newly elected Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Justice Anin Yeboah, has indicated that although he sees nothing wrong with gifting, he would not be influenced by gifts received from friends, in the discharge of his duty as the head of the Judiciary.

Justice Anin Yeboah, pointed out that in the Ghanaian cultural setting, gifts are not meant to influence the decision of people, so he will even accept a goat as a gift, if given.

“I know some Members of Parliament very well and even if they give me a goat, I’ll take it. That is a gift in the cultural setting, so there is nothing wrong accepting it”. Justice Anin-Yeboah disclosed.

Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Justice Anin-Yeboah, also told the Committee that gifts should be defined in proper context to avoid the perception of corruption.

Several judges from the lower were dismissed a few years ago after an investigative piece by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, exposed them for accepting bribes and gifts from persons whose cases were before them.

There is also a pending case at the Supreme Court which is yet to determine the entrapment procedure by the investigative journalist as to whether his methodology is appropriate or otherwise.

According to the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates, Rule 5(5) stipulates that “Neither judges nor members of their families residing in their households shall accept a substantial gift, bequest, favour, or loan from anyone except as follows;

(a) Judges may accept gifts incident to a public testimonial to them; books supplied by publishers on a complimentary basis for official use; or invitations to judges and their spouses to attend bar-related functions or activities devoted to the improvement of the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice,

(b) Judges or members of their families residing in their households may accept any other gifts, bequests, favour, or loan only if the donor is not a party or other person whose interests have come or are likely to come before the judge,

(c) Judges or members of their families residing in their households may accept any other gifts, bequests, favour, or loan only if the donor is not a party or other person whose interests have come or are likely to come before the judge,

(d) A gift, award or benefit incident to the business, profession or other separate activity of a spouse or other family member residing in the judge’s household, including gifts, awards, and benefits for the use of both the spouse or other family member and the judge (as spouse or family member), provided the gift, award or benefit could not reasonably be perceived as intended to influence the judge in the performance of judicial duties”.

Justice Anin Yeboah, was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, and Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, who pledged to resign immediately he is sworn in as new Chief Justice.

Justice Anin-Yehoah, nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on December 12, 2019, to the position of Chief Justice, would succeed Chief Justice Sophia Akufo, who retired on December 20, 2019.

Source: Editor/www.newslinegh.com

 

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