NDC MPs initiate bill to remove Chief Justice, others from GLC
Two National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs have initiated a private members’ bill to “exclude the Chief Justice as well as other Justices of the Supreme Court from the General Legal Council (GLC)”.
In a memo to the Clerk to Parliament, the two MPs – Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (representing South Dayi) and Francis-Xavier Sosu (Madina) – said the bill is aimed at redefining “the functions of the GLC and to provide for reforms in legal education such that accredited faculties of law with the requisite facilities would be licensed to run professional law courses, provide for discipline of lawyers and related matters to give effect to Article 37(1) of the 1992 constitution”.
Past sell-by date
A private legal practitioner, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, has said the GLC must be scrapped because it has “outlived its usefulness” in regulating the legal profession and education in Ghana.
“We shouldn’t have our judges involved in administrative issues when it comes to issues of exams and admissions; it is not done. Our judges should be restricted to … judicial matters. If we want to regulate matters concerning the Bar, the GBA or anybody or party could be set up to do so.
“They are a creature of statute and if, at the end of the day, Parliament thinks that they’ve outlived their usefulness, just like we amend or repeal laws, that law can be repealed and replaced by another body.
“We’re having too many problems with this particular body. The body has outlived its usefulness. After all, they have only two functions – regulation of the legal profession and legal education,” Samoa Addo said on Asaase Radio’s Saturday morning news analysis and current affairs show The Forum.
