The formal system is organized under an independent judiciary headed by a supreme court. The tribunal system is in place under the control of the Chief Justice. A traditional chief usually hears civil cases that concern customary matters, such as land inheritance and marriage. Both criminal and civil laws are enforced by a national police force. Partially because of the effective informal controls, the level of violent crime is low. Theft is the most common infraction. Smuggling is also rampant, but is not often prosecuted since smugglers regularly bribe police or customs agents (Advameg, 2014) (Bradt, 2014).
The legal system
The Ghanaian legal system is a mixture of British law, applicable to criminal cases, and indigenous custom for civil cases.
