Public trust in courts has fallen significantly, with many Ghanaians believing judges are swayed by political leaders, according to Yaw Nsarkoh.
Ghana's judiciary is structurally vulnerable to partisan influence, a trend that has gradually eroded public trust over years, according to Yaw Nsarkoh, former Executive Vice President of Unilever Ghana and Nigeria. Speaking at a Tuesday event, Nsarkoh cited Afrobarometer data showing a drop in public trust from 61% in 2002 to 38% in 2022, with 57% of respondents believing judges are influenced by political leaders. He described these figures as empirical signals of weakening judicial independence, not mere accusations.
Nsarkoh pointed to aggressive appointment powers exercised by successive administrations since 2000, noting that over 70% of Supreme Court members between 2017 and 2024 were appointed by a single president. He also referenced reports from organizations like CDD-Ghana highlighting persistent delays and opaque criteria for judicial elevation, particularly during politically sensitive periods. These factors, he argued, reinforce public suspicion about the judiciary's impartiality.
To strengthen judicial independence, Nsarkoh proposed radical measures, including an institutional role for medically fit, living retired Supreme Court justices in proceedings concerning the executive's attempts to remove sitting judges. He stated that the cumulative effect of these trends is a public belief that Ghana's judiciary has become structurally vulnerable to partisan influence, shaping the political imagination of the Fourth Republic.
Why it mattersThe judiciary's perceived vulnerability to partisan influence affects all citizens by potentially compromising the fairness and impartiality of legal proceedings.
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