Accra: Controversial legal practitioner Maurice Ampaw has alleged that some judges in the country accept bribes in cases they preside over. According to him, certain judges allegedly take money from both the complainant and the accused. He further claimed that after ruling against one party, a judge may advise that same party to file an appeal, sometimes offering guidance on how to overturn the decision.
According to Ghana Web, Ampaw, speaking in a snippet from an interview on Lawson TV shared on social media on April 14, 2026, maintained that some judges hide behind political influence to engage in such practices. He said, "There are cases where a judge takes a bribe from the guilty party and also from the innocent party." Ampaw alleged that a judge may rule against the guilty party and later inform them that the decision was intentional, indicating loopholes in the judgment and advising an appeal. He added that judges sometimes claim cases are politically motivated to justify their rulings and encourage appeals.
Ampaw's revelations come in the wake of controversies involving Justice Justin Dorgu, who serves as a Court of Appeal judge with additional High Court duties. Justice Dorgu has faced criticism over his handling of a divorce settlement case between businessman Richard Nii Armah Quaye and his ex-wife, Joana Coffie. The judge's comments during the case have drawn censure from various figures, including Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, who described them as 'unfortunate' and 'troubling.'