New lawyers tasked to restore public confidence in judiciary  

The Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood has tasked legal practitioners to work hard to lift up the image of the profession. 

Speaking at a ceremony to enroll 250 new lawyers in Accra, the Chief Justice said public confidence in the legal profession is eroding and therefore expects the new lawyers to conduct themselves in a manner that will impact positively on the image of the profession. 

Mrs. Wood advised the lawyers to commit to the rule of law and justice for all in a free and open society.

She told the lawyers not to see their profession as a gold mine but rather see it as one that requires them to shun greed and avarice.

Mrs. Wood said measuring professional success in monetary, material terms as well as the trappings of wealth and power would rather blind them and throw them overboard or  to doom.

She said commitment to ethical ‘lawyering’ and hard work would not only earn them rewards and good financial harvest but would win them public trust, respect and honour.

Mrs Wood urged the new lawyers to do away with arrogance and self-importance so they could receive “a good foundation on which to build the practice of law.”

The Chief Justice said it was also imperative that lawyers remained steadfast to the core values and ideals of the profession with an unwavering commitment to rule of law and justice for all.

She urged the lawyers to be mindful of the fact that having sufficient knowledge in law alone was not enough for them to play useful role in society.

"You need to understand the political, socio-economic, cultural as well as international context within which you will function effectively  as good lawyers. This is because the law does not function in a vacuum,” she said.

The Chief Justice said as lawyers they occupied a unique position to contribute to the building of Ghana’s democratic credentials which are built on the foundation of rule of law.

She said the legal profession was not exactly what it used to be adding “this why we expect that your future conduct will greatly assist us to shore up the image of this noble profession.

The Chief Justice said lawyers have always been at the forefront of the country’s struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

“Thus as leaders, you should not only be concerned with whether your decision, actions and omission conforms to the laws of the land but also that they enhance the building of the democratic culture and contribute to political, social, economic, cultural or moral wholesomeness of our people."

Mrs. Wood urged them to resolve not to become mere additions to the legal profession but be counted as positive contributors, shaping the frontiers of the law and making their trade relevant.

She urged them to have the interest of the nation and welfare of the people at heart as the country stands in dire need of leaders.

Mrs. Wood said “a lawyer was not a private person. He or she is the repository of a nation’s laws, a practitioner or master of the law and a nation’s conscience.”

She said the actions of lawyers have far reaching consequences on individual clients, families, communities and the nation they served.

“Therefore our dealings with them must be such as would promote confidence, faith and trust in the law and not otherwise.”

The CJ, Justice Sophia Akuffo, a Supreme Court Judge and Dr. Dominic Ayini, Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General took turns to present certificates and undertakings to the new members of the bar.

Ms Peggy Addo, Director of Human Resource of the Graphic Group of Communications Ltd, and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, New Patriotic Party Parliamentary Candidate, were among the 250 persons called to the bar.

Mr. Emmanuel Kyei was adjudged the best all round performance in both Parts I and II of the Professional Law Examinations.


SOURCE: GNA