Full Text-Report Of The General Legal Council For 2022/2023 Legal Year
Ama Governor Handed a Lifeline
COMPOSITION:-
1. His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah – Chief Justice and Chairperson
2. His Lordship Justice Victor Jones – Justice of the Supreme Court
Mawulom Dotse
3. His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie – Justice of the Supreme Court
4. His Lordship Justice Gabriel Pwamang – Justice of the Supreme Court
5. His Lordship Justice Nii Ashie Kotey – Justice of the Supreme Court/
Chairman of IEC
6. Hon. Godfred Yeboah Dame – Attorney General and Minister of Justice
7. Hon. Alfred Tuah Yeboah – Dep. Attorney General and Minister of
Justice
8. Professor Raymond A. Atuguba – Dean, University of Ghana Law School
9. Yaw Acheampong Boafo Esq. – National President, GBA
10. Kwasi Amoako Adjei Esq. – National Vice President, GBA
11. Kwaku Gyau Baffour Esq. – National Secretary, GBA
12. Amoak Afoko Esq. – President, GBA Upper East Region
13. Justin Agbeli Amenuvor Esq. – Government Nominee
14. Christopher Archer Esq. – Government Nominee
MEETINGS
The General Legal Council holds its regular meetings on the last Friday of every month. The Council also met on emergency sessions on a number of occasions during the legal year.
ADMISSIONS TO THE GHANA SCHOOL OF LAW
After the publication of the 2022 Entrance Examination results, six hundred and ninety-nine (699) students passed according to the criteria set by the Independent Examination Council and same was endorsed by the General Legal Council. The Council continues to grapple with the problem of increased number of law students who are graduating from the many law faculties in the country yearly. The present legal regime gives the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) the responsibility of accrediting Universities to run law courses whilst the Council retains only the right to recognize these faculties. In exercising this right the Council
monitors and evaluates the capacities and competencies of the faculties. During the year, the Council conducted monitoring exercise in several of the Institutions and made adverse findings against some of them and gave them time to rectify them. After exhausting the time for rectification without complying with the directives of the Council, the Council caused a publication in a national newspaper to be made withdrawing recognition of the under listed Faculties of Law:
1. Presbyterian University College, Kumasi Campus
2. Wisconsin International University College, Kumasi Campus
3. Greenfield College, Sunyani
Following petitions and engagements with the GLC, a consensus was reached that the various faculties would be monitored to ensure the defects in the various campuses have been remedied and a decision taken thereafter.
CALL TO THE BAR
In November 2022, Eight Hundred and Forty-Four (844) students who successfully passed their final examinations at the Ghana School of Law were called to the Bar at a ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre. Two (2) students were, however, not called due to inappropriate dressing on the day of call. Again, on 5th May 2023, One Hundred and Ninety-Three (193) students were also called to the Bar. Thus, a total of One Thousand and Thirty-Seven (1,037) have joined the legal profession in the legal year under consideration.
However, on 1st November 2022, Council received a complaint of misconduct against one of the students alleging that the student could be seen on widely circulated videos engaging in conduct unbecoming of an applicant-in-waiting- to be called to the Bar. The Council therefore constituted a committee to investigate the complaint and submit its report. The Committee completed its investigations and submitted a report to Council. After consideration of the report, Council decided to permit the student to complete appropriate forms for application to be called to Bar in October/November 2023 and that, Council will monitor and observe the student’s conduct during the time leading up to the submission of the application to be called
to the Bar. Council further decided that should the application to be called to the Bar be successful, the student will be required to give special undertaking to be of good behaviour and not to repeat any conduct which may bring the profession into disrepute whilst enrolled on the roll of Lawyers in Ghana. A letter was therefore written to the student to convey the decisions of Council.
INDUCTION OF DIRECTOR FOR GHANA SCHOOL OF LAW
Following the appointment of Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong as the Director of the Ghana School of Law Director of Legal of Education, an induction ceremony was held in December 2022. The swearing in and official outdoor ceremony of the new Director took place at the Ghana School of Law, Makola.
LEGAL PROFESSION BILL
The Legal Profession Act of 1960, Act 30, was passed to regulate the legal profession, legal education and professional conduct of lawyers in Ghana. Since its passage to date, the Act has not seen any significant change. A new Legal Profession Bill was prepared and Council invited inputs from stakeholders. The GBA as a major stakeholder set up a committee to collate the views of members and make recommendations for the review of the Bill. After the committee’s work, a report was submitted to the Council as the Bar’s position on the Bill. The conference of Deans of the various Law Faculties also submitted their report on the Bill to Council.
On 16th March 2023 to 19th March 2023, the GLC held a retreat in Koforidua to discuss the Bill. The Bill was exhaustively reviewed, and the final draft was given to the Attorney-General and Ministry for Justice.
ENFORCEMENT OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
Following the approval by the General Legal Council (GLC) mandating the GBA to implement the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements for lawyers in order to fulfil the requirements of Rule 84 of LI 2423 of 2020, the GLC at its meeting on 2nd November 2022 requested the GBA to submit report on modalities for approval by Council.
The GBA therefore constituted a committee to come up with modalities for the implementation of the CPD for the consideration of GLC. The Committee prepared Guidelines on the implementation of the CPD and submitted same to Council for approval. Council adopted the Guidelines subject to review by Council at its next meeting.
CHAIRPERSON OF GLC
Following the appointment of Justice Gertrude Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, she was sworn as the Chairperson of the General Legal Council to replace Chief Justice Anin Yeboah who retired as a Justice of the Supreme Court in May 2023
(SGD.) KWAKU GYAU BAFFOUR
GBA REPRESENTATIVE
