Government to set up specialised courts for audit infractions, 'galamsey'

Ghana is to set up specialised financial courts to handle cases arising from the Auditor-General’s reports, illegal mining and environment-related crimes, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.

He made the statement after a meeting with Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine and Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu on Monday.

The proposed courts will operate on a circuit basis across the country to speed up prosecutions in financial and environmental offences.

President Mahama said the Auditor-General would continue to “disallow” unlawful expenditures and “surcharge” those responsible, in line with Article 187(7)(b) of the Constitution.

Others present at the meeting included Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Pwamang, Judicial Secretary Musah Ahmed, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Presidential Legal Counsel Marietta Brew, Presidential Advisor Joyce Bawah Mogtari and Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu.