Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has raised alarm over deteriorating ethical standards among legal practitioners, citing a recent case of alleged theft by a lawyer at Tema Court as emblematic of broader professional misconduct.
Speaking at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School’s moot court commissioning, the judiciary head revealed troubling patterns emerging before the General Legal Council’s Disciplinary Committee.
“The ethical breaches we’re witnessing provoke profound dismay,” stated Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who chairs the disciplinary body. He referenced the ongoing investigation into a lawyer accused of stealing a colleague’s mobile phone within court premises as particularly egregious. The remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of professional conduct within Ghana’s legal system under the Mahama administration’s justice sector reforms.
The Judicial Service has recorded a 22% increase in disciplinary cases since 2024, according to Supreme Court registry data. Legal analysts attribute this trend to inadequate ethical training during law school and weak enforcement mechanisms. UPSA’s new moot court facility, designed to enhance practical legal education, forms part of institutional efforts to address these systemic challenges.
