Supreme Court judge nominee, Justice Philip Bright Mensah, has stirred controversy by suggesting that Ghanaian judges should learn the Chinese language to improve communication and strengthen economic ties between Ghana and China.
“One issue in Ghana is that if a public officer is accused, people tend to generalise and say the entire judiciary is corrupt without naming individuals. This perception is problematic. I can speak from personal experience as a former Director of the Judicial Training School,” he stated.
Justice Mensah believes that learning Chinese would help judges better understand the complexities of international trade and commerce, ultimately benefiting Ghana’s economy.
He shared an example from his experience, “In one instance, during training, someone came to me with a complaint about an individual who had allegedly taken money from him. We conducted inquiries, I was the Director of the Public Complaints Unit of the Judicial Service at the time and it turned out the allegation was false.”
He noted that such training would also enhance Ghana’s integration into the global economy, particularly in engagements with Chinese investors and partners.
“We need to address this issue. Often, when you listen to discussions on television or social media, instead of supporting the integrity of the judiciary, you hear claims of corruption. If you’re going to make such allegations, you must be bold enough to provide evidence. Otherwise, we end up talking about perceptions rather than facts,” he emphasised.
He concluded, “In addition to training, we need to raise public awareness. Furthermore, if a public officer engages in corrupt behaviour, that individual must be prosecuted.”
By encouraging judges to learn the Chinese language, Justice Mensah believes Ghana’s judiciary can more effectively engage with Chinese stakeholders, potentially paving the way for greater economic cooperation and development opportunities.
Watch the video below:
NAD/MA
