Ghana Suspends 7 High Court Judges Over Alleged Corruption

Ghana's government has suspended seven out of 12 high court judges in the wake of allegations of bribery stemming from a documentary made by an investigative journalist.

The decision is part of a response to a three-hour film first screened in the capital last month that has caused an uproar in the West African country because it showed judges accepting bribe money through intermediaries.

Ghana's judiciary is revered for its efficacy and impartiality and is viewed as a bulwark of a society that prides itself on its reputation as one of Africa's most stable and peaceful democracies.

But the documentary put Chief Justice Georgina Wood and other judicial leaders under pressure to show a forceful public response.

"Their suspension follows the establishment of a prima facie case of stated misbehaviour against them by the Hon. Lady Chief Justice (Wood)," said a statement from the Judicial Service announcing a decision by Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.