The Faculty of Law team of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) emerged winners of the Gertrude Torkonoo Moot Court Competition by a slim margin of one point, edging out KNUST in classic “host and win style” in the final yesterday, September 8, 2023.
GIMPA’s stellar team presented legal arguments in a session presided over by Her Ladyship the Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, accumulating 499 points at the end of the competition, with KNUST missing victory by a hair’s breadth, raking in 498 points – the culmination of an invigorating and electrifying moot court session; a full bore verbal duel.
In the end, it took a single point to crown GIMPA, etching the distinguished law faculty’s name as the winners of this noble competition’s first edition.
The panel, made up of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba of the Koforidua Court of Appeal, and Justice John Mark Nuku Alifu of the Cape Coast High Court, tried the hypothetical suit of Kwabena Mullar vrs. The Attorney General Of The Republic of Ankor & The Republic of Ankor Vrs Marvel Azuto and Paul Badman.
The mooters representing the applicant and the respondents were to argue whether Kwabena Mullar could be extradited to the Republic of Bervia, whether Marvel Azuto was criminally liable for aiding and abetting the bank heist, and whether Paul Badman and all Clandestine Law Partners PRUC’s directors were criminally liable for aiding and abetting money laundering.
Amid the ecstatic and rapturous applause that erupted at Greenhill Campus’s GB Auditorium at the end of the contest, the winners were also awarded a cash prize of GH₵10,000, a trophy, medals, packages from the sponsors, and books from Justice Yaw Oppong.
The runner-up team from KNUST also received a cash prize of GH₵5,000, medals, and books from Justice Yaw Oppong.
Outstanding mooters whose advocacy skills were nothing short of remarkable were also awarded. GIMPA managed to sweep a single award out of seven – 2nd Best Speaker Defense (Mr. Kojo Edumadzie Quayson), co-counsel of the Plaintiff in the matter that was before the simulated court.
A mooter from UPSA, Kesse Yaw Junior, earned a stunning brace – Overall Best Speaker and Best Defence Speaker, receiving a one-month internship with B&P Associates, an Associate’s Diary, an International Comparative Legal Guide on ESG, and a Samsung Galaxy Tab A1 Plus.
KNUST, despite coming in second place, went for the treble: Best Applicant Memorial, Best Respondent Oralist (Ms. Emmanuella Afia Opoku), and Overall Best Oralist.
The University of Cape Coast managed to clinch one award: the Best Respondent Applicant – Runner Up (Ms. Ashong Ewurabena Marble).
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, admonished the law faculties to incorporate consistent mooting in the legal study environment to equip the students with the practical skills for the proper application of theoretical study – a thread of thought with the full endorsement of the General Legal Council.
“There is a lot of theory in the schools and much less engagement in the physical mooting. As much as I’m enjoying this competition and this final outcome, I came here with a request to the universities that we should move the experience of school competitions and examinations to an everyday occurrence. The General Legal Council has to put pressure on you to incorporate the consistent discipline of moot court presentations in the universities.”
She further addressed how legal principles should be applied in the evolving technological space that is pervading every facet of 21st-century life, even in the justice administration sector.
“We have to be able to apply the principles of e-learning, which is what we are entrusted with as the players of the law. Law students, lawyers, we have to apply these principles of e-learning in every context of life. And I believe that the academia is well-placed to assist in developing the publications that will enrich the human spirit when things get cold. And so, the entire legal community, we must not place electronic law or e-law within the premise of intellectual property law. But we must go on now, in every subject that we study, to have the context of how legal principles apply in those traditional doctrines,” she noted.
The Dean of GIMPA Law School and Acting Rector of GIMPA, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, expressed gratitude to all partners and contributors for their immense support to the success of the competition, laying much emphasis on the practical essence of the competition ensuring to the benefit of the discipline.
“We recognize not only individual achievements but also the collective effort to promote legal excellence, critical thinking, and effective advocacy. We celebrate the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and sportsmanship that has characterized this maiden event,” he said.
He further commended the GIMPA Law Faculty for hosting the competition.
“I would like to express my pride in the GIMPA Law School community for embracing this initiative. May this competition continue to inspire future generations of legal minds and foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and service to society.”
The Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo Moot Court Competition began six months ago with 11 schools. Five presented written memorials, and four made it to the oral rounds, which eventually saw GIMPA edge KNUST out in the final by a point, an electrifying, nail-biting conclusion to a truly thrilling encounter.
