SC nominee recommends Chinese language training for judges in galamsey cases
By DL News
Published
1 min read
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on June 17, 2025, Justice Mensah highlighted language barriers as a major stumbling block in prosecuting non-Ghanaian offenders, especially Chinese nationals frequently implicated in gala...
Supreme Court nominee Justice Philip Bright Mensah has proposed an unconventional solution to improve the prosecution of illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—particularly in cases involving foreign nationals.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on June 17, 2025, Justice Mensah highlighted language barriers as a major stumbling block in prosecuting non-Ghanaian offenders, especially Chinese nationals frequently implicated in galamsey activities.
“When these Chinese suspects are brought to court, they often refuse to speak English—even if they understand it,” he said. This, he noted, hampers proceedings and weakens enforcement of the law.
To address the challenge, Justice Mensah proposed that judges in galamsey-prone regions receive Chinese language training, either through study programs in China or by bringing language experts to Ghana via the Judicial Training Institute (JTI).
While acknowledging that court interpreters are commonly used, he expressed concerns about their reliability. “Interpreters can sometimes be part of the problem. If judges understand the language directly, it will enhance justice delivery,” he argued.
Justice Mensah also emphasised that Ghana’s current mining laws are sufficiently robust, stating that the real issue is ineffective enforcement. “The legal framework is strong enough; it’s the implementation that needs strengthening,” he noted.
He called for greater synergy among state institutions to address the galamsey crisis, warning that failure to act could leave Ghana dependent on imported water within a decade due to the degradation of local water bodies.
On the topic of deportation of foreign offenders, Justice Mensah declined to give a firm position, noting that deportation falls under the executive arm of government and not the judiciary.
His recommendation, though unusual, signals a proactive approach to removing barriers in the judicial fight against environmental degradation and illegal mining.
