Ghanaian lawyers urged to refrain from granting interviews on cases pending in court

The General Council of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has expressed concern about the recent upsurge in lawyers using the media, particularly, the airwaves to grant interviews and discuss cases pending before the courts in which they are involved.

A statement issued in Accra on Friday and signed by Mr Peter R. Zwennes, National Secretary of GBA, reminded members of their code of ethics and the resolution passed at the 2008/2009 Annual General Conference held in Kumasi on the issue.

It said the resolution stated that “The Association hereby condemns the practice whereby some members use the media, particularly the Radio phone-in programmes to ventilate and argue the cases of their clients even when such cases are subjudice.”

The statement said “That members be reminded that by Section 8 of the Bar Constitution “A practising Lawyer commits misconduct if he grants any interview to a Representative of the Press in any matter in which he is or has been engaged as Counsel.”

It said decorum of the Bar was paramount and the Council entreats all lawyers to comply with the terms of this resolution.

Source: GNA