Ghana has suspended 22 of the 34 judges and magistrates accused of taking bribes and extorting money, in the biggest corruption scandal to hit its judiciary.

The 22 will remain suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary inquiry.

The inquiry, ordered by Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has started in the capital, Accra. It is being held behind closed doors.

The accused have not yet publicly commented on the allegations.

They include the 22 lower court judges and magistrates who had been suspended, and 12 High Court judges, he says.

The chief justice had started the process of determining whether there was a “prima facie” case against the 12, said judicial secretary Justice Alex Poku-Agheampong in a statement.

The other 22 had been suspended after the judicial council wrote to them about the allegations they faced, and received a response, he added.

Their suspension would stay in place until a “final determination of the matter”, Justice Poku-Agheampong said.

Our reporter says the disciplinary inquiry is being held behind closed doors at the Supreme Court building.

The judges and magistrates are present with their lawyers, he adds.

The chief justice acted after a two-year investigation by a top Ghanaian journalist who says he has evidence showing that judges and magistrates had taken bribes and extorted money.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas said he had nearly 500 hours of video evidence on tape, which had been handed over to the chief justice.

The attorney-general has granted him immunity under the whistle-blower act to pursue the story.

The disciplinary committee has been hearing the side of the implicated judges. Those from the lower courts are here to defend themselves. So far we are yet to know their responses to the allegations.

The High Court judges are also here. They have up to the end of the day to formally respond to the allegations. We are told they have been shown the video recordings for the first time. We do not know yet how they have responded to the allegations.

Everything is being conducted in camera. Very little detail is being given to the public. The judiciary says it will speak as and when they progress with investigations.

The issue now is whether Mr Anas should go ahead and broadcast the video as he has said he will. Some fear showing it will gravely undermine the authority of the court.