Allegations of bribery against the judiciary lack evidence- Justice Dennis Adjei

A judge of court of appeal, Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei who has been shortlisted for appointment to the bench of the Supreme Court has linked to unfavorable public views of the judiciary to poor legal arguments and disinformation, rather than actual incidents of bribery.

He commented on Monday [June 16, 2025] during his appearance before the selection panel of Parliament for vetting for his new role. Commenting on a question about current survey  findings showing erosion of public trust in the judiciary, Justice Dennis Adjei acknowledged the concerns but said many of the claims lacked supporting evidence.

He described that some litigants, after losing cases, make an unjustified conclusion of corruption played a role in the outcome.

He stated “People lose cases and assume it’s because they didn’t pay a bribe. Sometimes, the reality is that the case is simply weak. If anyone pays a bribe, they should name the individual involved rather than generalise the accusation.”

Justice Adjei, who recently serves as Director of the Judicial Training Institute, said ethics is a fundamental aspect of training for judges and judicial staff.

He cited his own experience working with the Judicial Complaints Unit, where he investigated a claim that turned out to be false. “The complainant fabricated a story suggesting he had influenced a judge. We found no evidence to support his claim. This type of behaviour contributes to public mistrust,” he said.

He encouraged Ghanaians to file a complaint with solid evidence, than spreading unverified allegations. “We must educate the public about the consequences of corruption, but we must also avoid making claims that are not based on facts.”

Justice Adjei also raised concerns about media reporting that he said undermine trust in the judicial system “Some media discussions damage public confidence by branding the entire judiciary as corrupt without offering proof. That must stop,” he said.

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