Acting Chief Justice Sets Condition for Ghana Law Society's Operation
Accra ,Ghana – September 25,2025 - In a notable turn of events, Acting Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has advised the Ghana Law Society to secure official accreditation and authorization from the General Legal Council (GLC) prior to operating as a professional organization. This guidance is issued amidst the Ghana Law Society's ongoing lawsuit at the Supreme Court, which challenges the Ghana Bar Association's decades-long dominance as the exclusive professional body for attorneys in Ghana.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized the importance of adhering to proper legal procedures, stressing that the GLC's certification is essential for any legal body to operate within the law. "You must obtain certification from the General Legal Council. So, when you say you intend to apply to the GLC for recognition and licensing, you are on the right path," he stated. The Acting CJ's guidance signals that regardless of the outcome in court, any new legal body must first secure GLC approval to operate.
The Ghana Law Society's Supreme Court case, if successful, could reshape Ghana's legal landscape by allowing multiple professional associations to operate. This development would mark a significant shift in the country's legal profession, offering lawyers more options for association membership. The Ghana Bar Association has, for decades, been the only officially recognized professional group for lawyers, but some members of the legal community have raised concerns about its operations and lack of alternatives.
During a meeting with the memebership of the Ghana Law Society members in Accra on Thursday, September 25, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized that the judiciary expects lawyers and legal associations to comply with licensing requirements, rather than emphasizing membership in any particular association. "If you have come on board either as individuals or as a law society, what I would implore you to do is to pursue your license from the GLC. Once that is in place, the bench will definitely give you audience," he advised.
The outcome of the Ghana Law Society's Supreme Court case will have far-reaching implications for the country's legal profession. As the Acting Chief Justice has made it clear that GLC recognition is essential, the Ghana Law Society must navigate the complex regulatory framework to establish itself as a recognized professional body. With the potential for multiple professional associations to emerge, Ghana's legal landscape may be on the cusp of a significant transformation.
Source – Lead News Online/Jeff Ago
