[ 2014-09-17 ]

Mandatory courses for lawyers before renewal of Licenses – Chief Justice
Chief Justice Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood
Cape Coast, Sept 16, GNA – The Chief Justice,
Her Ladyship Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood on Monday
announced that Lawyers would now have to
undertake mandatory courses before the renewal and
issuance of licenses.
She said this was to ensure professionalism and to
rebuild the image of the legal profession which
has over the years experienced bad press.

Mrs Wood said this at the opening of this year’s
Ghana Bar Association conference held in Cape
Coast under the theme: “Insulating State
Institutions from Interference for Effective
Realization of their Mandate; The Role of
Regulatory Bodies”.

The Chief Justice expressed concern about the
delay in administrating justice in the country
which she noted had led to frustration of
litigants and therefore challenged judges to take
responsibility of managing their courts.

She said the issue of professionalism should be
the hallmark and immediate concern of the bar and
bench, stressing that the judiciary believed in
rule of law and that members of the bar should put
in place strategic plans to further strengthen the
judicial system in the country.

Mrs Wood expressed regret that the judiciary was
still saddled with issues of alleged corrupt
practices and stressed that the situation was
being compounded following the demand for money by
some court bailiffs before the delivery services
to clients and pointed out that the service had
reached a point that it should crack the whip.

The Chief Justice was also unhappy about lawyers
over charging their clients and suggested that a
number of pro-bono services should be rendered to
ensure rule of law and equality before the law.

Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong , Attorney-General
and Minister of Justice urged members of the
Association to eschew all judicial malpractices
and ensure the fulfillment of the code of ethics
of their profession, adding, “you are expected
to act in an honest manner and uphold the rule of
law at all times so as to help redeem the name
of the bar”.

She said it was a challenging time for the legal
profession in Ghana because the nation now has
knowledgeable and well informed public who were
very conscious of their rights and the work of the
lawyer.

Mrs Appiah-Opong expressed worry about the falling
standards in the legal profession and asked the
GBA to come out with strategic measures that
could help address the situation, noting that
the current economic situation had resulted in
the breakdown of the ethics of the profession.

Mrs Appiah-Opong called on the GBA to support the
independence of justice, ensure confidence for the
courts and also to act as mentors for the junior
members of the Association, stressing that if
people lose confidence in lawyers they would take
the law into their hands which would result in
anarchy and confusion.

The Minister pointed out that lawyers played a
critical role in ensuring peace and security in a
country and urged the GBA to ensure that there was
peace in the Bar and that they should endeavour to
protect the laws of the country and adhere to the
ethics of the profession.

Mrs Appiah-Opong also urged members to charge fair
and reasonable fees, stressing that excessively
high fees was a barrier to justices and that it
could also break down the relationship between
lawyers and their clients and advised them to act
consciously and take up tasks they could easily
handle or dispose of in a given period.

The Minister pointed out that political
interference impeded the work of lawyers and that
it also has a negative impact on the society and
stressed that the situation should be condemned by
all.

Mr Thomas Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Central Regional
Minister in his welcoming address expressed his
displeasure about the frequent adjournment of
cases in court and tasked the GBA to educate the
public on their rights and responsibilities.

He further expressed concern about indiscipline
among lawyers and asked that the situation be
addressed to ensure public confidence in the legal
profession.

Nene Abayaateye Amegatcher, President of the GBA
said in as much as we keep changing governments as
a nation, their effectiveness and the sustainable
development and stability of the nation depended
on the effective functioning of critical state
institutions such as parliament, the judiciary,
Electoral Commission and the security agencies.

He noted that such institutions when they
function well, play varying roles including
checking excesses of the executive, guaranteeing
equity and justice for all, as well as checking
corruption, assuring national cohesion and
promoting peace and freedom.

The GBA President announced that the
Association’s five year strategic plan was being
implemented with the commencement of the health
and investment needs of the members.

He however expressed regret that the members of
the association have not been forthcoming to
register to enable them enjoy the benefits.

Nene Amegatcher said in the past year the Bar lost
18 of its members and urged the members to engage
in regular health checkups.

Source - GNA

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