The Marginalisation of the Right to Justice: The Case of Bribery Scandal in Ghana’s Judicial Service

Abstract

This article argues that corruption in judicial service denies majority of the people, particularly the poor, effective ‘right to justice’ in breach and in pursuit of their human rights; because they cannot afford to bribe the corrupt officials. Also, it states that the ‘right to justice’ is anchored in international law and affirmed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UHDR) as a pre-requisite towards the realisation of human rights. In that regard, Ghana’s failure to protect this fundamental right of her citizens equally undermines the social trust, which induces the people to collaborate with the government in planning to deliver efficient and sustainable social, economic and political programmes for the welfare of the country and people.

Keywords: corruption, bribery, justice, human, right, marginalises, development