Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo
The Chief Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo has
expressed worry about the level of indiscipline that is creeping into the legal
profession in Ghana.
According to her, the current state of Ghana
Bar is not the best as there has been an increase in the number of disciplinary
complaints brought against lawyers.
Speaking at the induction of 305 lawyers at the
University of Ghana, Justice Akuffo stated that most of
the complaints that are brought before the General Legal Council (GLC) are against
younger lawyers.
She observed that the root cause of the
complaints was lack of efficiency evidenced by disloyalty, indiscipline and the
quest to get rich quick.
She, therefore, admonished the new lawyers to
exhibit integrity and good character in their practice of law as those are
tenets of paramount importance in the legal profession.
She urged the new lawyers who were called to
the Bar to take the code of ethics of the profession seriously, and must at all
costs avoid brushes with the law in order to ensure that no disciplinary action
is instituted against them.
She warned that the General Legal Council would
not spare any lawyer, new or old, who falls foul of the law.
Quality
Lawyers
Justice Akuffo was adamant that the GLC would
ensure that only quality lawyers were churned out by the Ghana School of Law.
She stated that the legal profession was a
noble profession and the GLC would not relent in its effort to ensure the
production of only quality lawyers, adding that “a profession that can assure
that every membership is by merit is a profession to be proud of.”
The Chief Justice reminded the new lawyers of
the challenges that lied ahead of them, including the demands from society,
especially from their clients for them to render loyal service and put their
clients’ interest first before theirs.
She told the new lawyers that challenges may
come their ways “but that is what makes life worth living provided you maintain
the right professional character. Prepare to take advantage of the
opportunities that will come your way.”
Justice Sophia Akuffo also indicated that a
call to the Bar opens the door to another journey and urged the new lawyers
“never to be too proud or too shy to ask questions as help is always at hand
for those who ask for it.”
The enrolment ceremony was attended by members
of the General Legal Council, some Justices of the Superior Courts, lawyers as
well as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Afua Akuffo.
Some of the new lawyers who performed creditably in various fields were awarded with certificates. Kezia Owusu-Ansah was awarded the overall best student.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak
