He made the statement when members of the Ghana Law Society (GLS) paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie stressed that the courts have consistently upheld this position, referencing the precedent set in Tawuraja v. Attorney-General.

“Since the case of Tawuraja and Attorney-General, the courts have always insisted that practising lawyers must be in good standing, and as far as good standing is concerned, to us, you must have a certificate from the GLC,” he said.

His comments come amid an ongoing legal battle at the Supreme Court, where the Ghana Law Society and other groups are challenging the Ghana Bar Association’s (GBA) long-standing monopoly as the only recognised body representing lawyers in the country.

The petitioners are seeking a constitutional reinterpretation that would allow for multiple professional associations.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s remarks have, however, sparked debate about his impartiality, given that the Supreme Court is yet to rule on the matter. Some observers argue that his comments could be perceived as leaning toward one side in the dispute.

Source: Myjoyonline

ALSO READ:

• Mahama nominates Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as new CJ

• Galamsey crisis: The time to act is now without further delay – Ag. Chief…

His appointment, effective September 1, follows the recall ofJustice Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong from the role.

A letter signed by Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stated that Justice Oppong, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, is being reassigned to focus fully on judicial duties.

Prof. Atuguba will lead the Council’s legal education administration while a search is undertaken for a permanent Director of Legal Education.

The Acting Chief Justice commended Justice Oppong for his “significant contribution” to professional legal training during his tenure.

Prof Atuguba’s appointment is expected to drive a new direction for the council.

His opinions prior to this have been intense as he believes many of Ghana’s laws are outmoded and make it difficult for people to adhere to ethical principles in the corporate world, particularly the banking sector.

“Our laws are not in tune with the times; how do you determine ethics with such a legal framework?” he questioned at an event in February 2024.

Prof. Atuguba said the country still had about 10 English laws in its statutes passed between 1539 and 1863.

He said since the laws, including the Bills of Exchange Act, 1961 (ACT 55), were passed years ago, there had been significant developments that required that new laws be passed to align with current trends, but that had not been done.

His presentation was on the topic “Ethics, financial conduct, and the political economy in Ghana and other emerging markets.”

Source: Myjoyonline.com

ALSO READ:

• Gov’t engaging General Legal Council on legal education reforms – Minister

• A-G nominates Xavier Sosu, Kasser-Tee and Aziz Bamba to General Legal Council

The General Legal Council (GLC) will be stripped of its role in legal education under sweeping reforms being pursued by the government, Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem Sai has revealed.

The long-standing institution will no longer control legal training or call new lawyers to the Bar — responsibilities that will now be transferred to a new, independent body.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Dr. Srem Sai said the Legal Education Bill currently under consideration will correct what he described as a decades-old “stop-gap measure” that has outlived its usefulness.

“The GLC was meant to be temporary,” he said.
“It was supposed to be a stop-gap measure during Kwame Nkrumah’s time, when we didn’t have enough lawyers. That’s why it was doing everything — legal education, standards at the Bar, enrollment, discipline. But that system is outdated.”

He explained that the reforms will “decouple” the GLC’s current roles into two distinct institutions: one to oversee legal education and another to maintain professional standards.

“There will be a different body that runs legal education and is responsible for calling people to the Bar. Then there will be another body that focuses on maintaining standards once you’re a lawyer,” Dr. Srem Sai stated.

While some have interpreted the reform as an attempt to “scrap” the GLC, the Deputy Attorney General disagrees.

“The GLC will remain. But its focus will change. Its educational function will be taken over and given to a new institution. That’s all,” he clarified.

He maintained that the General Legal Council still has an important role to play.

“Those who say the GLC is being scrapped say that because they associate it with legal education. But once the structure is clarified, they’ll see it is still very relevant — just not in education.”

Dr. Srem Sai said the historical roots of the current system explain its limitations.

“We didn’t have the human resources back then to form separate bodies. So the GLC did everything. But this is 2024. We need a proper structure for legal education. This is not a new idea. It’s a necessary correction.”

He emphasised that the proposed system aligns with international best practices and will improve the quality of legal education and professional regulation in Ghana.

“It’s about efficiency. It’s about doing things the right way. The time has come.”

ALSO READ:

• A-G nominates Xavier Sosu, Kasser-Tee and Aziz Bamba to General Legal Council

• Gov’t engaging General Legal Council on legal education reforms – Minister

While this ceremony may seem routine, one individual stands out for his inspiring journey—Philip Osei Bonsu, affectionately known as “OB” to many.

From humble beginnings in Elubo, a small border town in the Western Region of Ghana, Philip has become a lawyer, a prominent voice in the media, and a celebrated leader.

A humble beginning with big dreams

Growing up in Elubo, Philip Osei Bonsu’s early life was far from the paths typically associated with future legal minds.

The small town, known primarily as a border crossing into Côte d’Ivoire, was not a place many would expect to cultivate the ambitions of a future lawyer, media executive, and thought leader.

Yet, Philip set his sights on a greater future in this unassuming setting.

His educational journey took him to St. John’s School in Sekondi, where his academic talent became evident.

From there, he went to the University of Ghana, graduating with First Class Honors in Linguistics and Theatre Arts.

But Philip’s thirst for knowledge and self-improvement didn’t end there.

He earned an MSc in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University in Scotland, a prestigious Tullow Scholarship, and pursued additional training through the Mandela Washington Fellowship at the University of San Diego, California, where he obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship.

A media luminary

While Philip Osei Bonsu’s achievements in academia are commendable, it is his illustrious career in the media that has made him a household name in Ghana.

As the Programs Manager of Asempa FM, a subsidiary of Multimedia Group, and the host of the award-winning political and current affairs show Ekosiisen, Philip has become a respected voice in shaping national discourse.

Through his thoughtful moderation and in-depth interviews, he has earned a reputation as one of the leading journalists in Ghana today.

His work in media management, combined with his talents as a broadcaster, has positioned him as a significant figure in Ghana’s media landscape.

Under his leadership, Ekosiisen has not only won awards but also influenced public opinion and policy discussions at the highest levels.

An advocate for social change and literacy

Beyond the microphone, Philip’s commitment to social change is evident in his involvement with organizations that aim to make a difference.

He serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Financial Literacy Foundation, Africa, where he works to empower people through financial education.

Additionally, he holds a seat on the Board of Pent Media Centre and contributes to the global editorial team of the same organization.

His passion for social entrepreneurship and leadership, honed through his international experiences, has driven his continued advocacy for youth empowerment and financial literacy across the African continent.

The law beckons

Even with all these accolades, Philip’s desire to effect change in society didn’t stop at media and advocacy.

Perhaps as fate will have it, Philip was born to advocate, and today, the Lord has put a worldly blessing on this gift.

OB’s ambition extended into the legal field, leading him to pursue an LLB at Central University, and subsequently earn a Qualifying Certificate (QC) and Barrister-at-Law (BL) from the esteemed Ghana School of Law.

Today, as Philip Osei Bonsu is officially called to the Ghana Bar, he enters a new chapter in his remarkable journey.

Becoming a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana adds yet another dimension to his diverse career, enabling him to leverage both his legal expertise and media influence to advocate for justice and equity.

A future full of promise

Philip’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter where you start, dedication, resilience, and belief in your potential can lead to extraordinary accomplishments.

From Elubo to Accra, from a small-town boy to a lawyer, media manager, and global leader, Philip Osei Bonsu exemplifies what it means to dream big and work hard to make those dreams a reality.

As he takes on this new role, his community, his colleagues, and his many listeners will no doubt be watching, eager to see how he continues to shape the future of Ghana, both in the courtroom and beyond.

Philip’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and serves as an inspiration for the next generation of Ghanaian leaders.

This comes after it was alleged in open court that, Mr Dame tried to get an accused person to incriminate the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial.

Already, the allegation has been swiftly denied by the Attorney General’s department.

According to a State Attorney and spokesperson for the A-G’s department, Isaac Wilberforce Mensah, the communication between Mr Dame and the third accused in the ambulance purchase trial, Richard Jakpa, has been in pursuit of a plea bargain requested by the accused.

“The question now is, if indeed what happened in court happened, has any wrongdoing been done? That is the question. Has the Attorney General acted unlawfully? If indeed he acted in the way that is being told in the media that he acted, has he acted unlawfully? The answer is no.”

He clarified that, the Attorney General does not have to coerce anybody to make a case against an individual.

“The Attorney General himself has denied this emphatically. All this is more or less much to do about nothing. The law is clear. Is it legal for the Attorney General or prosecution to engage an accused person? Yes, it’s lawful.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. It is allowed in law. Did the Attorney General make statements to the effect that go and make false statements against anyone? The answer is no,” he said.

However, the NDC insists the allegation by the third accused cannot be brushed away.

The party is, therefore, threatening to drag the A-G to the disciplinary committee of the General Legal Council.

The National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi said they will follow the matter to its logical conclusion.

According to him, the conduct of the Attorney General in the matter is a breach of the ethics of the legal profession.

“This is a man who, because of the position he occupies, is described as the leader of the bar. But this conduct of Dame is unbecoming of even an ordinary lawyer not to talk of the leader of the bar.

“It is also a breach of the prosecutor’s code of conduct. It amounts to witness tampering and constitutes a crime, that is the offense of fabrication of evidence provided under sections 213 and 214 of the Criminal and Other Offenses Act,” he said.

ALSO READ:

• Ambulance case: Richard Jakpa claims AG pressured him at odd hours to incriminate Ato…

• Ato Forson begged for ambulance case to be discontinued – AG

Addressing the media on Friday, Mr Woyome described the GLC’s decision as a contempt of court.

Mr Woyome, who is at the centre of the GH¢51 million Waterville judgment debt case argued that judicial decisions have cleared him and anyone else involved in the contract of any misconduct.

“Thank God that we have got all the judgments. Thank God that I am waiting for the Supreme Court to do the honourable thing by departing away from the so-called linking me to something that I am not part of. I can say that I pledge on my honour that I will remain very active to make sure that the institution of government do the right thing. And I want to announce here that I am taking the General Legal Council (GLC) to court early next week,” he stated.

Mr Woyome’s remarks come after GLC disbarred Mr Nerquaye-Tetteh from practising as a lawyer over the collection of GH¢400,000 in 2011.

In a notice dated January 31, 2024, the GLC said while defending the state against a suit by Mr Woyome, Mr Nerquaye-Tetteh personally caused the direct transfer of the money from Mr Woyome to his wife’s bank account.

Admitting to making the transfer, the businessman insisted it was purely on humanitarian grounds and cannot be the basis for the GLC’s action.

“We will pursue GLC and the AG for them to stop what they are doing. Nerquaye-Tetteh’s wife’s money that I sent to her was on the basis of what I do at WOFA, Wilmy Foundation for Africa.

“I pay fees and pay other things for many people across the whole African country. When I work that is what I used my money for, philanthropy,” he noted.

ALSO READ:

• Chief State Attorney disbarred from legal practice for allegedly accepting GH¢400K from Woyome 

• I have and will never pay bribe – Woyome reacts to GLC’s decision to…

The GLC said no such directive has been given, and wants such reports disregarded.

“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 license and indeed no such amendment to the Law is about to be made,” excerpts of the GLC’s statement issued on Monday, May 8, 2023 said. 

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

However, the General Legal Council has explained what the Chief Justice said. 

According to the Council, the Continuing Professional Development the Chief Justice spoke about is standard requirement in some jurisdictions. 

“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,” the statement clarified. 

GLC has, thus, allayed the fears of lawyers and the public of the said reports.

“The public and lawyers are hereby informed of the misrepresented reportage and the correction thereof accordingly,” the statement concluded. 

Below is the full statement:

Yaw Acheampong Boafo, speaking on JoyNews’ The Law, argued that the GCL has the mandate to establish its own rules for examination.

Thus, the Council’s rules and regulations on the upcoming entrance examination are justified.

“Every examination body has its own rules and there is no declaration of human rights on examination. People get very emotional about the matter,” he stated on Sunday.

Explaining further, Mr Boafo said the GCL’s personnel capacity is limited and cannot take on re-marking.

He also noted that the re-marking could also disrupt the academic calendar of the Ghana School of Law.

“With the entrance examination, when the results are in the academic year is about to start. So it stands to reason that for the Law School’s survival the entrance examination shouldn’t have the same rules around it as Part One or Part Two.

“You have 2,500 students writing an examination and then about 900 or 1,000 people pass. This year, the examination will be written on September 23, the Law School has its calendar, just imagine you have 1,000 remarking scripts are we going to say that the Law School should hold one to go through those processes and have a delayed academic calendar?” he quizzed.

In July, news broke that GCL will ask prospective students of the Ghana Law School to sign an undertaking that bars requests for re-marking of scripts, re-tallying of scores, or review or marks.

Candidates cannot also request to see their marked answer scripts or the marking schemes used for marking the questions.

This raised eyebrows with many influential persons including Private Legal Practitioner, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, describing it as obnoxious.

But the GBA President sees nothing wrong with the undertaking.

In his view, there is nothing preventing anyone from studying law, however, the GCL cannot be forced to “open their arms to let everyone in.”

He further told the candidates to be limit their expectation since dreams are not always meant to come true.

“The idea that I have expressed a desire to be a lawyer doesn’t mean I have to be a lawyer. When we were kids, we all wanted to be pilots but Ghana Airways is collapsed now. So the expression of desire does not necessarily mean that there is a corresponding obligation to let your desire come true,” he said.

Dr Ayine is accused by the General Legal Council (GLC) of questioning the independence of the judiciary in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Judgement on the 2020 election petition filed by John Mahama.

Dr Ayine in May 2021 participated in a Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and Law Faculty of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) virtual Roundtable/Webinar on the topic “Presidential Election Petitions and their impact on Africa’s Democracy”.

He was asked by the moderator whether or not at the end of the case, his faith In the judiciary had been enhanced or weakened.

The Bolga East MP stated that he had expected the Supreme Court, building on the December 2013 Presidential Election Petition, to be more faithful to legal precedent, more open in the application of the law for purposes of holding the Electoral Commission accountable, and more faithful in its application of the rules of procedure in terms of adducing evidence by the Petitioner in proving his case.

According to him, the fact that all nine Supreme Court judges were unanimous in rejecting almost every application of the Petitioner that he had brought was “telling” in terms of the open-mindedness of the justices as far as the Petition was concerned.

He also expressed concern about the lack of reasons for the rulings given by the Supreme Court. According to him, “at the end of the day, the Petition dampened his hopes with respect to the independence of the judiciary especially its ability to hold the Electoral Commission in particular accountable in election petitions”.

The Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah on May 25, 2021, directed the Judicial Secretary to make a complaint against Dr Ayine at the Disciplinary Committee of the Council.

The committee invited comments from the former Deputy AG on the complaints and after receiving his response held a preliminary enquiry.

He was slapped with charges including Misconduct in a professional respect, contrary to rule 61(b)(i) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette Rules) 2020(L.I. 2423), Misconduct in a professional respect, contrary to rule 61(bXii) L.I. 2423; and Misconduct in a professional respect, contrary to rule 89(c) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2423).

The Committee after its enquiry concluded that a prima facie case of professional misconduct has been made for which the charges should be levelled against Dr Ayine.

The former Deputy AG however wants Council of State Member Sam Okudzeto out of the panel hearing the matter.

He commences his objection by first pointing out that Mr Okudzeto is a direct appointee of President Akufo-Addo on the Council of State deriving pecuniary benefit.

He notes that Mr Okudzeto on December 16, 2020, granted an interview to Accra based Citi FM.

“During the interview, he scathingly berated and questioned the basis upon which the Petitioner was challenging the outcome of the results of the December 2020 Presidential Election, taking the view that NDC was negligent and therefore could not attack the Electoral Commission on the outcome of the results”, Dr Ayine states in his objection.

He points out that the CDD discussion he participated in was purely a political engagement.

He, therefore, states that any adjudicator who participates in the proceedings against him
“must not only be seen to be neutral, but also removed from, and completely independent of, the politics of the Petition and the two major political parties involved in it.”

He concludes that:

“Mr Samuel Okudzeto also derives prestige and pecuniary benefits from his appointment. In the circumstances, we think, respectfully, that the legality or legitimacy of his appointment to the Council of State is a source of disqualifying bias, apart from the issue of pecuniary benefit.

“Further, a presidential election petition is a direct product of politics at the highest level. The subject matter of the complaint, in this case, is an offshoot of a presidential election petition.

“Mr Samuel Okudzeto comes onto the Panel with a political association, sympathy and link, which, coupled with the public comments that he had made prior to the Petition strongly suggest that he cannot bring an objective judgment to bear on the matter before the Committee.

“He should, therefore, not be sitting on the Panel in judgment over Dr Ayine’s conduct.”

In a statement issued on November 17, the Union’s Secretary, Julius Kwame Anthony, and the Secretary for Societies and Welfare, David Hughes Devereaux, jointly expressed their gratitude to the GLC for finally granting access to the students to pursue their legal ambitions.

NUGS also expressed gratitude to the Attorney-General and Parliament for their separate efforts in resolving the issue that had been bothering the affected students for some weeks now.

“We thank the President of the Republic and the Attorney-General for taking prompt action to ensure a timely decision which satisfies all parties. We are particularly grateful to Parliament, especially members of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for responding to our petition and that of the National Association of Law Students by passing the 29th October, 2021 resolution, directing the Attorney-General to take necessary steps towards the admission of students,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, NUGS wants the General Legal Council to issue clearer modalities that will inform how the 499 students will be able to begin their studies effectively. The Union is further imploring Parliament to expedite action towards the reformation of legal education in the country.

“While we await the General Legal Council to issue a clear modality for the students to join their colleagues, we urge Parliament to proceed with steps to reform our legal education architecture by seeing through the amendment of Act 32, the Legal Profession’s Act,” the statement added.

NUGS is a national body, charged with the responsibility of seeing to the welfare of all students across the country. On the back of this, the Union has been fighting aggressively over the past few weeks for some 499 students who were denied admission into the Ghana Law School.

According to the General Legal Council, the said students failed to meet the requirements for admission. The students, however, refuted the decision of the GLC, arguing that they met the required threshold.

This subsequently sparked series of debates between the students, the GLC, NUGS, the Attorney-General and the Parliament of Ghana, as well as other relevant stakeholders.

Lawyer for the students, Martin Kpebu, who confirmed to Citi News that the case has been withdrawn, said the decision was premised on the AG’s letter to the GLC for the aggrieved students to be admitted.

The students took the matter to court on the basis that they were denied admission to the Ghana School of Law by the General Legal Council, although they passed the examination by the mandated 50 percent pass mark.

Several appeals were made for the students to be admitted, including Parliament, which directed the General Legal Council to admit the students.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame in a letter to Parliament subsequently indicated that their directive was unlawful.

READ ON:

• Law practice is not a right, it’s a privilege – Attorney General [Audio]

• Exclusive: AG gives GLC options to admit 499 law students [READ]

However, it has emerged in a letter written to the GLC before the parliamentary order, that the Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame, had actually asked the GLC to grant admission to the students.

In the letter, the Attorney General suggested that the students be admitted in November this year or in May 2022.

He, however, recommended three pathways by which the admission can be done.

A private legal practitioner has downplayed Parliament’s directive to the General Legal Council (GLC) to admit the 499 candidates who were denied admission to the Ghana School of Law.

Lawyer Nana Adjei Baffour-Awuah maintained that, the directive has no binding effect on GLC which is the creation of statute.

Members of Parliament ( MP) voted in support of a motion filed by Majority Chief Whip, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, which prayed the House to compel the GLC to admit all candidates who passed the entrance examination.

The Effutu MP described the actions of the GLC prior to the entrance examination, as unacceptable noting that, it has the tendency to make the law course unattractive to prospective applicants.

But lawyer Nana Adjei Baffour-Awuah vehemently disagreed with the assertion of the MP who is also a lawyer.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday, he said the decision of Parliament is artisan and populists.

He indicated that, the directive by Parliament puts “needless pressure” on the GLC when it passed the law governing their operations.

The legal practitioner feared such interference in the work of the GLC would open the floodgates for quacks in the profession.

“Even at the court people are complaining about misconduct of some judges and lawyers. This is worrying so the GLC must be allowed to do its work,” Mr Baffour-Awuah added.

The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has adjourned the case involving a section of LLB holders denied admission to the Ghana Law School and the General Legal Council (GLC) to November 9, 2021.

This was when some of the aggrieved students made their first appearance in the court presided over by Justice Nicholas Mensah Abodakpi on Friday, October 29, 2021.

The students claimed in their writ on October 22, 2021, that their fundamental human rights have been violated by the regulatory body.

They are, therefore, praying the Court to compel the Ghana School of Law to admit them into the institution, having met the required pass mark (50%) in the entrance exam.

But when the case Daniel Sackey and 142 others vs the General Legal Council was called, the Attorney General requested for an adjournment to file certain processes which the court granted.

The Assistant State Attorney, Patricia Ayirebe Acquah, told the court that all parties have agreed to the request following consultations.

Lawyers for the applicant, Martin Kpebu, and GLC, Nana Yaw Ntrekwah corroborated that position.

READ ON:

• Why 499 law students can’t be admitted – Akufo-Addo reveals [Listen]

• Law students hit streets over entrance exam saga [Photos]

However, Mr Kpebu indicated his clients will be filing a supplementary response once they are served with the AG’s processes.

Mr Sackey, one of the applicants, urged his colleagues to remain resolute and believe in the court system.

They have suggested it should be done either through virtual or face-to-face school.

Their proposal is in line with comments by private legal practitioner, Professor Kwaku that the candidates did not fail but were denied access to the law school due to lack of space.

The 2021 entrance exam saw 28 percent of the LLB candidates gain entrance to Ghana’s only institution for training lawyers.

The applicants were examined on six subject areas that were: Constitutional Law, Immovable Property, Contract Law, Tort, Criminal Law, and the Ghana Legal System.

Some 790 out of 2,824 candidates passed the exam which was organised in August.

The pass rate is in line with previous records, except for 2020, where 1,045 students out of 2,763 passed.

The re-occurring incident has sparked rage among a section of applicants amid claims most of the people denied admissions clocked the 50 pass mark.

Africa Watch, in a statement, opined the action contradicts the government’s agenda of doubling tertiary enrolment by 2030 and creating equal career opportunities.

They argued the action by the Council to deny the students access to legal education is unfair and cannot be justified, hence their proposal.

ALSO READ:

• Law school SRC president details cause of massive entrance exam failure

• Prof Azar reacts to mass failure at Ghana Law School

Meanwhile, the National Union of Ghana Students and Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu, have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to order a probe of the mass failure and ensure the applicants who passed are admitted.

Read the full statement below:

Admit the 499 – Eduwatch to Ghana Law School by Gertrude Otchere on Scribd