An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 38-year-old private bailiff, Kojo Budu Jackson, to four years imprisonment with hard labor for forging the signature of a retired judge on a certificate of divorce. Jackson, who worked at the Ejisu District Court, was found guilty of forgery of judicial service documents after he pleaded guilty midway through his trial.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, Jackson had scanned the signature of the former Magistrate and pasted it onto the certificate, using the Registrar’s stamp. The court also imposed a fine of 200 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢2,400, which Jackson must pay within a month or serve an additional year in prison.
The forgery was discovered after the Ghana Police Service received a petition from the Judicial Secretary about individuals engaged in forgery of marriage and divorce certificates, court orders, and other judicial documents. Investigations led to Jackson’s arrest on August 13, 2024, and a search of his room revealed several forged documents, including affidavits for divorce and a Certificate of Divorce.
This case highlights the growing concern over document forgery in Ghana’s judicial system. In recent years, several individuals have been arrested and prosecuted for similar offenses, including a 35-year-old man who forged judicial documents and bank stamps, and a 55-year-old Nigerian trader who smuggled fake currency into Ghana.