Acting Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, says that practising lawyers in Ghana must obtain certification from the General Legal Council (GLC) to be recognised as being in good standing with the profession.
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.