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Tag: General Legal Council

  • A-G nominates Xavier Sosu, 2 others to General Legal Council

    A-G nominates Xavier Sosu, 2 others to General Legal Council

    Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has nominated three individuals to serve on the General Legal Council in accordance with Section 1(2) of the Legal Profession Act, 1960, and Paragraph 2(1)(d) of the First Schedule to the Act.

    A statement from the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice announced the selection of Francis-Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina; Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee, a lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law; and Dr. Abdul-Bassit Aziz Bamba, a senior lecturer at the same institution.

    These nominees have been chosen to bring their legal expertise to the Council, which is responsible for regulating legal education and upholding professional standards within the legal profession.

    The statement also confirmed that President John Dramani Mahama has been officially informed of the nominations. Additionally, the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, was assured of the Attorney-General’s full commitment to the process.

    About nominees

    Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee is a distinguished lawyer and law lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law. She is the founder and head of Kasser Law Firm and has made significant contributions to legal education, political and institutional development in Ghana. Clara is known for her expertise in Oil and Gas Law, Environmental Law, and Taxation, and has developed innovative concepts to improve tax collection in Ghana. She is also a respected public figure, often engaging with the media and the Ghana Revenue Authority on national issues.

    Francis-Xavier Sosu is a human rights lawyer and politician, currently serving as the Member of Parliament for the Madina Constituency. He is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and has a strong background in sociology, law, and economic policy management. Sosu is known for his advocacy for human rights and legal reforms, including his successful efforts to abolish capital punishment in Ghana. His journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a prominent lawyer and politician is a testament to his resilience and dedication to justice.

    Dr. Abdul-Bassit Aziz Bamba is a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law, where he teaches courses on Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law, and International Commercial Arbitration. He holds advanced degrees from Harvard Law School and has extensive experience in legal practice and consulting. Dr. Bamba has worked with various international organizations and has published extensively on topics such as criminal law, constitutional law, and human rights. His academic and professional achievements make him a valuable asset to the General Legal Council.

  • Why punish Chief State Attorney for no crime? – Woyome to GLC

    Why punish Chief State Attorney for no crime? – Woyome to GLC

    The businessman at the centre of the GH¢51 million Waterville judgment debt case, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, has questioned the rationale behind General Legal Council (GLC) punishing the Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh.

    According to Woyome, Mr Nerquaye-Tetteh did no crime, therefore the actions taken against the attorney are unjustified.

    The GLC disbarred Nerquaye-Tetteh based on a violation of Rule 2(2) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 1969 (L.I. 613). This decision effectively bars Nerquaye-Tetteh from practicing law in Ghana for the remainder of his career.

    The disciplinary action originates from a 2011 incident where, during his representation of the state in a lawsuit initiated by Alfred Agbesi Woyome, Nerquaye-Tetteh orchestrated the transfer of GH¢400,000 from Woyome to his wife’s bank account. The GLC found Nerquaye-Tetteh’s failure to provide a reasonable explanation for this transfer as grounds for allegations of professional misconduct.

    In a notice dated January 31, 2024, the GLC detailed the case, emphasizing the detrimental impact of Nerquaye-Tetteh’s actions on the legal profession’s dignity and reputation.

    The notice underscored the unacceptability of such conduct, particularly given Nerquaye-Tetteh’s role as a Chief State Attorney.

    Signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Cynthia Pamela Koranteng, the notice formally disbars Nerquaye-Tetteh from practicing law and prohibits him from representing himself as a lawyer or offering legal services to the public.

    The GLC’s revocation of Nerquaye-Tetteh’s practicing license underscores the gravity of the misconduct and reflects the council’s commitment to maintaining professional standards in the legal field.

    In a statement to reporters on Friday, February 16, Woyome denied accusations of bribing the senior state attorney, asserting his law-abiding nature.

    He clarified that Nerquaye-Tetteh never handled his file, emphasizing a judgment that absolves anyone claiming illegal payment to Woyome.

    Woyome questioned the Attorney General’s continued tarnishing of his image and highlighted that Nerquaye-Tetteh’s involvement was limited, only deputizing in court when necessary, and after government negotiation.

    “I want you to understand one thing that I have been law-abiding in this country. I’ve never given a bribe or taken a bribe, because even I’ve never been in a government position neither have I benefited from any government money whatsoever in any government. My brief stake in the government of Atta Mills as a board chairman and also as appointment committee member. Even fuel coupons I never accepted.”

    “We have this judgement that bars anybody that says that Alfred Woyome was illegally paid. Bars anybody that says that Nerquaye-Tetteh or anybody that was involved in this transaction from Kufuor’s time to the NDC’s time has done something wrong.

    “On what basis is the Attorney General still tarnishing the image of a person for all these years. If you read deeply, you’ll realise that Mr Nerquaye-Tetteh never handled my file. The only time Nerquaye-Tetteh was sent to court was when there was somebody out and he went to deputize and even that one it was after the government negotiation.

    “Every payment made was by court order and the decision was taken in the highest arm of government from the castle.

    “Every letter and every decision was copied to the then President, Chief of Staff and other people. How then can just a Chief State Attorney take a decision; in some of the meetings he was not even there,” he further explained.

    Background:

    The General Legal Council, in a notice dated January 31, 2024, and signed by Judicial Secretary Justice Cynthia Pamela Koranteng, revoked Nerquaye-Tetteh’s license due to professional misconduct.

    The council found him guilty under Rule 2(2) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 1969 (L.I. 613). Nerquaye-Tetteh oversaw the direct transfer of GH¢400,000 from Woyome to his wife’s account while representing the state in a 2011 lawsuit.

    The GLC stated that he failed to provide a plausible rationale for the transfer, adversely affecting the “dignity and high standing of the legal profession.” Nerquaye-Tetteh is barred from practicing law in Ghana.



  • No exams ‘at all’ before law license renewal – GCL refutes reports

    No exams ‘at all’ before law license renewal – GCL refutes reports

    The General Legal Council has issued a statement refuting recent media reports suggesting that lawyers will soon be obligated to take exams in order to renew their licenses.

    The statement, dated May 8, 2023, clarified that the reports were based on a misinterpretation of remarks made by the Chief Justice during the enrollment ceremony for 196 new lawyers on May 5, 2023.

    The Council quoted a portion of the Chief Justice’s speech in its statement.

    “Lawyers in the country will soon be mandated to complete a minimum of a 12-hour professional development programme in a year before the renewal of their license.

    This is to help broaden their knowledge and contribute to their growth in the profession.

    In line with that, plans were far advanced to make the programme, which was enshrined in the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (Legislative Instrument 2423) a prerequisite for the issuance of a practicing license to all lawyers under the Legal Profession Bill which would soon be made law,” the Council noted that reports were published which sought to suggest that lawyers will soon be required to write an exam.

    In the statement, the Council noted that the portion of the speech by the Chief Justice in no way suggests that any such initiative will be introduced, rather it said, there will be a ‘Continuing Professional Development’ programme, which is a standard requirement in some jurisdictions around the world.

    “There was no mention of Lawyers being required to write examinations at all before a renewal of License and indeed no such amendment to the Law is about to be made,” portions of the statement read.

  • Lawyers will not write exams before renewal of license – GLC

    Lawyers will not write exams before renewal of license – GLC

    The General Legal Council (GLC) has dismissed suggestions that lawyers will be obliged to take examinations before their licenses may be renewed.

    The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is purported to have said lawyers will write exams before their licenses are renewed.

    But the General Legal Council in a statement on May 8, clarified that, “The attention of the General Legal Council has been drawn to the erroneous reportage on some media platforms of His Lordship the Chief Justice’s speech given at the enrolment ceremony of 196 Lawyers called to the Bar on Friday, 5th May 2023. There was no mention of lawyers being required to write examinations at all before a renewal of licence and indeed no such amendment to the Law is about to be made”.

    According to GLC, the requirement for lawyers to complete “Continuing Professional Development before the renewal of a practising licence, is a standard requirement in some jurisdictions around the world. This practice is aimed at sharpening the skills of lawyers and keeping them abreast with recent developments in the Law for the benefit of the clients they serve”.

    GLC further called on lawyers and the general public to disregard the said reports.

    “The General Public and Lawyers are hereby informed of the misrepresented reportage and the correction thereof accordingly,” General Legal Council in its statement said.

  • Meet members of Ghana’s first General Legal Council

    Meet members of Ghana’s first General Legal Council

    Fifteen people made up the first General Legal Council of Ghana, which was presided over by Sir Arku Korsah, who was also the Chief Justice at the time.

    The council was established after March 6, 1957, when Ghana gained independence.

    On September 1, 1958, Mr. K.S. Yaasi, the Supreme Court’s Acting Chief Registrar, named the first group of members for the legal council.

    The General Legal Council, which was established as the primary legal regulating organization, was given the responsibility of conducting and governing legal education and practice in Ghana.

    By design, the council has the authority and capacity to decide on the direction and policy for legal education and training, as well as the rules governing professional legal practice and related issues.

    This was later published in the Daily Graphic on September 2, 1958.

    According to the article, the 15 members were;

    Chief Justice, Sir Arku Korsah, Chairman, Mr. A. E. A. Ofori-Atta, Minister of Local Government, deputy chairman, Mr. Justice Van Lare, Justice of Appeal, Mr. Justice Granville Sharp, Justice of Appeal, Mr. Geoffrey Bing, Q.C., Attorney General, Professor J. H. A. Lang, head of the faculty of law, University College of Ghana, Mr. Justice C.S. Acolatse, Puisne Judge, Sir Leslie M’Carthy, retired Puisne Judge, Sir Emmanuel Quist, retired Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Kojo Botsio, Minister of Trade and Industries, Mr. Kweku Boateng, barrister-at-law, Mr. A. M. Akiwumi, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. R. S. Blay, barrister-at-law, Mr. Cobina Kessie, M.P. barrister-at-law and Mr. Akufo-Addo, barrister-at-law.

    The General Legal Council was set up by an Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Legal Profession in Ghana. The Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32). The Legal Profession Act among other things is expected to organize legal education and uphold standards of professional conduct and discipline.

  • Meet the 3 female practicing nurses called to the bar

    On Friday, November 11, 2022, over 700 new lawyers were called to the bar.

    The ceremony which saw the new lawyers being enrolled to the Ghana Bar by the General Legal Council had 3 practising nurses included in the list.

    The three are mental health nurse Edwina Ankoma Sey, a graduate of the Pantang Nursing Training, College, Hamidatu Seidu of the Jirapa Nursing Training College and Jenepha Saratu of the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College.

    The Ghana Registered Nurses’ and Midwifery Council in a congratulatory message on Facebook said “Congratulations to all the nurses and midwives who have been called to the Ghana bar today! We are super proud of your outstanding achievement!”

    The enrolment ceremony was held at the Accra International Conference Centre under the auspices of the General Legal Council which is the statutory body obligated by law to uphold the professional standard of lawyers.

    The Call to the Bar event, according to a legal news portal, Dennislawnew, is deemed in law to be a formal meeting of the General Legal Council and they set the various formalities of this meeting as captured by Section 7 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32).

    Source: Ghanaweb 

  • ‘Justice for Ama Governor’ online petition to General Legal Council gathers storm

    Some Ghanaians on social media have launched an online petition targeted at the General Legal Council (GLC).

    The move is in protest of the suspension of the call to the Ghana Bar of Elorm Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor on social media.

    The lawyer-in-waiting, who is also a YouTuber, is being denied the Car call despite her successful completion of the professional law program, that is passing her exams and scaling the interview session as well.

    The petition dubbed ‘Justice for Ama Governor’ has been published to gather signatures.

    Ama Governor reportedly received a letter dated November 3, from the Secretary to the General Legal Council, Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA, informing her of the suspension because a complaint filed by a “concerned citizen”.

    The GLC indicated that the complaint by this “concerned citizen” alleged that Ama Governor is seen in widely circulated videos engaging in what it describes as “conduct unbecoming of an applicant to be called to the Bar”.

    The Complainant, the GLC Secretary indicated, also submitted a flash drive [pen drive] which contains selected video files and hyperlinks of Ama Governor to relevant website publications.

    Ama Governor’s conduct is said to violate Regulation 21 (c) of the Legal Profession (Professional and Post-call Law Course) Regulations, 2018 L.I. 2355.

    The said Regulation states: “A student of the school qualifies to be called to the Bar, if that student has […] (c) satisfied the Council that the student is of good character.”

    Barely a few days after the suspension was communicated, an online petition circulating on various social media platforms has already generated 8,982 signatures out of the 9,000 targeted.

  • ‘Justice for Ama Governor’ online petition to General Legal Council gathers storm

    Some Ghanaians on social media have launched an online petition targeted at the General Legal Council (GLC).

    The move is in protest of the suspension of the call to the Ghana Bar of Elorm Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor on social media.

    The lawyer-in-waiting, who is also a YouTuber, is being denied the Car call despite her successful completion of the professional law program, that is passing her exams and scaling the interview session as well.

    The petition dubbed ‘Justice for Ama Governor’ has been published to gather signatures.

    Ama Governor reportedly received a letter dated November 3, from the Secretary to the General Legal Council, Justice Cynthia Pamela A. Addo JA, informing her of the suspension because a complaint filed by a “concerned citizen”.

    The GLC indicated that the complaint by this “concerned citizen” alleged that Ama Governor is seen in widely circulated videos engaging in what it describes as “conduct unbecoming of an applicant to be called to the Bar”.

    The Complainant, the GLC Secretary indicated, also submitted a flash drive [pen drive] which contains selected video files and hyperlinks of Ama Governor to relevant website publications.

    Ama Governor’s conduct is said to violate Regulation 21 (c) of the Legal Profession (Professional and Post-call Law Course) Regulations, 2018 L.I. 2355.

    The said Regulation states: “A student of the school qualifies to be called to the Bar, if that student has […] (c) satisfied the Council that the student is of good character.”

    Barely a few days after the suspension was communicated, an online petition circulating on various social media platforms has already generated 8,982 signatures out of the 9,000 targeted.

    JUSTICE FOR AMA GOVERNOR | SumOfUs Petitions https://t.co/79At1SGid5

    — Kwadwo Sheldon (@kwadwosheldon) November 9, 2022

    Ama Governor: Less than 1000 signatures to go pic.twitter.com/PXmNIUzNXh

    — BIG k (@kofighozt) November 9, 2022

    Justice for Ama Governor

    I just signed this important petition. Please add your voice too, and share it with everyone: https://t.co/jewmWIdV6o

    — Marreka Ⓜ️ (@Ebenezer_Peegah) November 9, 2022

    I just signed this important petition. Please add your voice too, and share it with everyone: https://t.co/nE6loeGw83 via @SumOfUs

    — KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) November 9, 2022

    Truly horrifying what’s happening to Ama Governor.

    Every year, rapists are called to the bar before our very eyes.

    Yet it is Ama Governor whose character/conduct is “questionable” simply because she documents how she navigates her life & shares it with us.

    Shame.

    — fatima (@JustDerby) November 9, 2022

    No offence to anyone please ,but if Ama governor was promoting LGBTQ on her channel then I think it’s the law that has got to her,LGBTQ is illegal in Ghana and promoting it isn’t something you should be doing if you want to get a job that’s mainly about the law .

    — Owuraku (@ransfordddd) November 9, 2022

    As usual, I’m disappointed but not surprised.

    Can someone please clearly outline what happened? And if it’s shareable, please let us know the reasons the GLC have given for refusing to call Ama to the bar even though she has met all requirements.https://t.co/QGh6h9wSIK

    — Kuukuwa Manful (@Kuukuwa_) November 9, 2022

     

  • Law Examination Leakage: Students Association questions credibility of examination body

    The National Association of Law Students has called for a full-scale investigation into reported leakage of the Ghana School of Law entrance paper scheduled for Friday morning.

    The Association said the leakage, which had been confirmed by some candidates, raised questions of credibility of the Independent Examination Committee of the General Legal Council – the body supervising the examination.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Asare Hassan, President of the Association, said the situation would disorganise the students and affect output.

    “It’s been confirmed by some of the candidates and the exam has been cancelled. Our sources say the exam has been rescheduled to 1330 hours but we are not sure because there has not been an official confirmation,” he told the GNA.

    The 2022 entrance examination for admission to the Professional Law Course was scheduled to take place on Friday, September 23, 2022, from 1000 hours to 1130 hours.

    However, hours before the exam was supposed to have started, copies of the said paper allegedly circulated on social media.

    The General Legal Council is yet to officially respond to the reported leakage. But unconfirmed reports indicate that the said paper had been cancelled, awaiting further direction from the Council.

    The Association of Law Students said the development vindicated its position that there was the need for reforms in the conduct and management of the entrance examination to make the process more transparent and credible.

    “We think that this exam is even not an exam, it is a selection. Because it is a human institution, they should allow for students to seek for remarking and all that. Even when they make a mistake, they will stick to what they have,” Mr Hassan said.

    “We need to put systems in place to resolve some of these issues that come up every now and then. If we need to fire where necessary, if we think people are incompetent, fire them. We need to investigate and get to the bottom of some of these issues,” he added.

    This is not the first time an examination at the Ghana School of Law has been cancelled.

    About two months ago, the Independent Examinations Body cancelled the Civil Procedure paper, which was expected to be written on, July 15, 2022.

    The examination was cancelled after a copy of the paper was widely shared on social media.

    Source: GNA

  • Law students association demands withdrawal of entrance exams advert deemed defective

    The National Association of Law Students has called for the withdrawal of an advert for the Ghana School of Law entrance examinations.

    The association feels the advert in the June 11, 2020 edition of the Daily Graphic by the Independent Examination Committee (IEC) of the General Legal Council (GLC) lacks critical details and is in need of an amendment.

    The association noted that, unlike previous years, like in “2018 and 2019 where 65 and 53 days notice was given, the 2020 advert, Paragraph B, has no date at all.”

    In a statement, the association, for example, noted that the advert does not indicate a date. The association, thus called for its “withdrawal and amendment to disclose an ascertained date, time and venue” before it is re-published.

    “Sufficient notice, including date and venue, is a right, and not a privilege. It is a reasonable expectation and fair to persons desiring to sit the exams,” it stressed.

    The students say a minimum of 50 days notice is also “the reasonably established practice hitherto, which projected points to August 2020.”

    The association remains distrustful of the IEC and “finds the advertised aberration a cause for worry and is unable to accept same.”

    It insists that the lack of sufficient notice means the advert “is defective and/or allows capriciousness, which GLC must guard against if it is committed to doing substantial justice.”

    Need for admissions criteria

    As part of its call for transparency, the association called on the GLC to declare the number of students it expects to admit “and the criteria used for the determination/estimation and this should be the norm for subsequent years.”

    “Regulation 1 of LI2355, discretional in totality, reasonably indicates, as NALS expects, that the admission process is for GLC, firstly, to determine and announce publicly the number to be admitted in each academic year, secondly, to allocate quotas to all law faculties, together with, thirdly, conduct the entrance exam for the admission. GLC is to exercise all three discretions together or none at all,” the association outlined.

    The students also called on the GLC to include its pass mark in the notice, “to end or avoid any randomness with the pass mark.”

    It noted that the GLC could “later come out to announce 60 percent as the pass-mark in order to avoid admitting students.”

     

    Source: citinewsroomÂ