Ghana's judiciary suspended 22 judges and magistrates on Wednesday after investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas released audio and video files implicating more than 180 judicial officials in apparent corrupt practices.

In a statement, Ghana's judicial council said it initiated the process to investigate the allegations into the 22 suspended officials and others accused of accepting bribes and extorting money from Ghanaian citizens involved in court cases.

Investigative journalism

Anas - who describes himself as an "undercover journalist" and "private investigator" - has said that impactful journalism was necessary for a healthy society in Ghana.

"In our part of the world, sometimes simply gathering information is not enough, you need to back it up with hardcore evidence and this is what I do," Anas said on his Twitter account.

'Heroes'

The Ghana-born award-winning actress Ama K. Abebrese also esteemed the journalist and his team's work, stating, "They are heroes and deserve the highest award of the land."

Ghanaians have long criticized the West African country's judiciary for making use of corrupt practices.

Ghana ranked 61 out of 175 countries listed in corruption watchdog Transparency International's 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index report.

ls/bw (AP, dpa)