Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has thrown his weight behind the concept of legal vacation for Ghana’s overworked judges, but insists the arrangement must not become a shield for corruption suspects who exploit procedural delays to evade justice.
In a strongly worded intervention on the ongoing national debate over the judicial vacation, Mr. Awuni acknowledged the physical and mental toll the bench endures. However, he argued that the fight against corruption requires extraordinary measures, including holding trials on weekends and even on Christmas Day.
“We cannot and must not normalise looting with impunity, especially when the actors know that their lawyers can play delay games until their party comes into office to free them. These tricks aren’t new,” Mr. Awuni stated.
His comments come at a time when the judiciary is under intense scrutiny over its decision to hear high-profile corruption cases during the current legal vacation. The move has been met with legal challenges from defence counsels, who argue that vacation courts are typically reserved for procedural matters, not substantive trials.
Mr. Awuni, a celebrated investigative journalist known for his work on corruption and governance, suggested that the burden of proof should drive the pace of justice. He noted that genuinely innocent accused persons and their lawyers would welcome a speedy trial to clear their names.
“If I were a lawyer in a case and knew my client was innocent, my client and I would be happy for a speedy trial to clear my client,” he said.
Drawing a vivid analogy, he challenged the prosecutorial and judicial arms of the state to adapt to the tactics of the accused. “If the criminal birds of our ruling class have learnt to fly without perching, the hunters of justice must devise ways to shoot those in flight without missing.”
Mr. Awuni’s remarks align with growing calls from anti-corruption campaigners, including Vitus Azeem and legal scholar Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, who have advocated for a fast-track justice system with strict time limits for trials to prevent the “weaponisation” of adjournments.
The journalist concluded his appeal with a direct charge to the Chief Justice, urging the nation’s top judicial officer to prioritise speed and efficiency in prosecuting corruption cases to restore public confidence in the justice system.
“Dear Chief Justice, we need more speedy trials,” he said.
As Ghana grapples with high-profile corruption cases that have dragged on for years, the debate over judicial vacations and trial efficiency continues to polarise legal professionals and the public alike.
