The General Legal Council received 98 complaints against lawyers out of which 83 disciplinary cases were disposed of in 2020.
In addition, the General Legal Council is expected to handle 180 disciplinary proceedings against lawyers.
This was announced by Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta when he presented the 2022 Budget statement in Parliament.
To enhance access to legal aid, the Office of the Legal Aid Commission opened new district offices in Asamankese, Kpando, Mamponteng, Obuasi, and Suhum and the Commission trained 40 staff in basic Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Laws in Legal Aid Delivery, 40 staff in ADR Mediation, and 34 lawyers in Criminal Justice and ADR Delivery.
The Commission completed and operationalized its Scheme of Service, Legal Aid Policy, Strategic Plan, and Guide to Legal Aid Delivery.
The Commission received 1,658 civil and criminal court cases and resolved 734 of them and it also received 5,392 cases and resolved 3,904 using the ADR mediation.
In addition, the Commission continued with education and sensitization programs on various radio stations in the regions.
In 2022, the Commission will operationalize the Bongo, Kade, Nalerigu, Nangode, Nkwanta, Nsawam, Sandema, Tongo, and Walewale district offices. It also plans to open offices in the Bono East and Western North Regions and start recruitment of lawyers, ADR practitioners, and administrators to manage these offices.
He said the Volta Regional Office at Ho is 70 percent complete and expected to be fully completed in 2022. Construction works on the Kyebi and Koforidua district offices will commence while the Paralegal System will also be operationalized.
The minister said the General Legal Council (Ghana School of Law) enrolled 312 lawyers to the Bar and the Law School conducted an entrance examination for 2,824 applicants for admissions into the Ghana School of Law out of which a total of 790 students passed and gained admission.
In 2022, the Ghana School of Law expects to conduct entrance examinations for 2,500 applicants and anticipates admitting 800 students into the Ghana School of Law while 700 students are expected to be called to the Bar.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.con/Kofi Atakora
