Kpebu Warns: “Judicial Independence Won’t Come From Law Alone — It Needs Judges of Character”

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu says Ghana cannot achieve true judicial independence through constitutional reforms alone, insisting that integrity, courage and public support are the real pillars of an accountable justice system.

Speaking on News Digest on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Kpebu argued that removing presidential influence over judicial appointments may strengthen the system, but reforms will fail without judges who possess unwavering character.

“Character, character, character. This debate is about character. Character is very, very, very important,” he stressed.

He cautioned that changing appointment procedures will not magically transform the judiciary.

“Changing the law and saying presidents will not appoint judges does not automatically mean the judiciary will become 150 percent. No. We’ll still be left with the character of individual judges and lawyers.”

Kpebu said judges must be willing to uphold the law even when their rulings anger powerful actors, noting that personal integrity remains the strongest shield against political interference.

He cited the Office of the Special Prosecutor as an example of how institutional design alone cannot guarantee accountability, arguing that the effectiveness of public institutions ultimately depends on the individuals who lead them.

Kpebu also criticised society’s failure to defend principled public officials, pointing to the removal of former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo as a case where citizens did not rally strongly enough behind integrity.

“We don’t honour honest men as much,” he said, lamenting that public support for upright officials is often weak when it matters most.

He urged Ghanaians to play a more active role in protecting independent institutions, warning that reforms will have limited impact without citizens prepared to defend accountability.

“If the society doesn’t get up to fight, these are some of the things you get,” he said. “It’s a collective responsibility for society.”