Ghana Legal Council not daunted by resistance to reform in legal education- Chief Justice
The Chief Justice Sophia A. Akuffo on Friday said the General Legal Council (GLC) was not daunted by the resistance encountered in the ongoing legal education reform in the country.
She noted that it was public knowledge that the Council had met resistance but the GLC was not daunted.
According to Ms Akuffo the GLC would continue to engage stakeholders to overcome any difficulties in the reforms and chart the way forward.
Ms Akuffo explained that the ongoing legal education reforms embarked by the GLC, was not only intended to groom lawyers per their training, but to equip them with requisite practical training defined by its Code of Conduct and integrity of practice.
The Chief Justice said this after she administered oaths on 38 newly qualified lawyers who were called to the Bar at a ceremony in Accra.
The Mini-call which had 13 females among the 38 newly qualified lawyers also marked the formal opening of the General Legal Council meeting.
On indiscipline, Ms Akuffo said the GLC and its Disciplinary Committee would not spare any errant lawyer who goes against the rules of the legal profession.
Ms Akuffo who is also the Chairperson of the GLC recounted that there had been creeping indiscipline in the profession and the Council had been criticised for the harsh manner it had been imposing penalty on errant lawyers and tasked the new lawyers not to indulge in any offensive conducts.
According to her some lawyers may have already been socialised with vices instead of virtues and thereby normalising things that should be rejected by law.
She said the reform would continue because changed were not found on a smooth plain.
Ms Gloria Akuffo, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, moved a motion for the lawyers to be enrolled on the Roll of Lawyers, and Mr Benson Nutsikpui, National President of the Ghana Bar Association seconded the motion.
Mr Justice Alex B Opoku Acheampong, Judicial Secretary, congratulated the lawyers for their perseverance and hard work in achieving their goals.
Source: GNA