Supreme Court Judge Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi has urged Ghanaians to stop offering bribes to judges, saying efforts to eliminate corruption in the judiciary will only succeed if the public also plays its part.
He said corruption within the justice system is not driven by judicial officers alone, arguing that litigants who attempt to influence court decisions through bribery contribute significantly to the problem.
“I say to people, listen, judges don’t give themselves bribes. It is litigants and Ghanaians who will offer the judge their bribe, even for the judge to contemplate it. So stop bribing your judges because the judge is not supposed to sell justice to you.”
Corruption exists but does not define the Judiciary
Justice Kulendi acknowledged that some judges and judicial officers engage in corrupt practices but cautioned against judging the entire judiciary by the actions of a few.
“I’m not one of those who will say that there are no corrupt judges or there are no corrupt judicial officers. Then they must have come from some other planet, and they are not Ghanaians.”
He explained that the judiciary reflects the broader Ghanaian society.
“So the judges are just a cross-section of Ghanaians. And so to the extent that our society has corrupt people, some of them have filtered into the judiciary.”
Judiciary can attract corrupt individuals
Justice Kulendi said the authority exercised by judges can make the judiciary attractive to individuals with corrupt intentions.
“The judiciary presents a very predatory and opportunistic avenue for somebody who is already disposed to corruption to manifest that outrageous disposition fully. So it is there.”
Despite that reality, he stressed that many judges and court officials continue to discharge their duties with integrity and remain committed to administering justice fairly.
Due process must be respected
The Supreme Court judge also referred to the disciplinary actions taken after the “Number 12” judicial corruption exposé, noting that the Judicial Service has continued to sanction errant officers while respecting due process.
“Day in, day out, people are being flushed out of the system. But there are considerations of due process. Anybody who is a judge was first a lawyer, and then they became a judge. So when you’re dealing with them, you can’t be arbitrary, and you cannot compromise due process.”
Justice Kulendi made the remarks during an interview on Citi FM on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, while discussing public perceptions of corruption within Ghana’s justice system.
He maintained that tackling corruption requires a collective effort, urging Ghanaians to reject bribery and support efforts to preserve the integrity of the country’s judiciary.
