Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has issued a forceful call for immediate negotiations between the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Association of Judges and Magistrates to address a contentious dispute concerning the handling of court proceedings during the legal vacation period.
The dispute centers on concerns raised by the GBA regarding directives requiring lawyers to appear before Vacation Courts, despite indicating they would be unavailable during this time. The Association has appealed to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to ensure established practices governing the legal vacation are respected.
The controversy has deepened following the Chief Justice’s decision not to grant requests by lawyers representing former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahen and former National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer Hanan Abdul-Wahab to defer their cases until October.
The lawyers, including Samuel Atta Akyea and former Attorney-General Godfred Dame, had cited prior commitments during the vacation and requested that the cases be adjourned until after the period. Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai has, however, argued that lawyers’ primary duty is to their clients and that the interests of litigants should take precedence over a lawyer’s desire to take a break.
Mr. Kpebu stated, “I’m in the middle ground. Middle ground being that we should negotiate. We should try to find an amicable settlement,” he said. The current approach, he argues, effectively requires individual lawyers to approach judges handling their cases to seek accommodation, a situation he believes could lead to inconsistent outcomes.
He proposed that the GBA engage directly with the Association of Judges and Magistrates to agree on a uniform arrangement for lawyers whose cases have been listed before Vacation Courts. According to Mr. Kpebu, such an approach could help settle the disagreement without further public confrontation and provide greater clarity for both lawyers and judges during the legal vacation.
This resolution is expected to be a significant step toward preventing further public clashes and ensuring a smooth continuation of the legal vacation period. The dispute highlights a fundamental disagreement over how to manage the practical implications of the vacation, demanding a collaborative solution from all stakeholders.
Watch Related Video
Source: MyJoyOnline
