Supreme Court judge nominee, Justice Philip Bright Mensah, has proposed Chinese language training for judges to help bridge the communication gap in galamsey-related trials.
Justice Mensah made the proposal when he appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
He pointed out that many foreigners arrested for illegal mining activities do not speak English, which complicates the prosecution process.
“When these foreigners are arrested, they either do not understand English or refuse to speak it, making prosecution difficult.
“If judges understand Chinese, we will not need to rely heavily on interpreters, who sometimes introduce their own complications,” he told the Committee.
Justice Mensah acknowledged that interpreters can be used in legal proceedings but argued that their involvement can sometimes influence the outcome of cases.
“It is not just about language. It is also about the accuracy of what is being said and whether the interpretation is trustworthy. If a judge understands what the accused person is saying directly, it improves the process,” he added.
In June 2024, the then Deputy Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, George Agbenowoshi, said that galamsey cases often linger in court and are eventually dismissed because of the language barrier.
Justice Mensah’s proposal comes at a time when the government has resolved to deport all foreign nationals engaged in illegal mining activities in Ghana, widely referred to as galamsey.
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