GBA got it completely wrong on legal vacation — Deputy A-G

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has firmly rejected the Ghana Bar Association's (GBA) stance on legal vacation, stating it lacks any legal foundation. He emphasized that there is no genuine controversy regarding the courts' ability to operate during vacation periods, asserting that vacation courts have consistently been established to handle cases.

The Deputy Attorney-General argued that the authority to decide court sitting dates lies with the judiciary, not the lawyers. He pointed out that Chief Justice's warrants have authorized numerous judges to sit during the vacation and handle cases. Dr Srem-Sai noted that a vacation judge's courts remain under their jurisdiction even after the vacation, and delaying their proceedings could cause significant delays when they return.

He rejected the GBA's claim of a convention preventing lawyers from practicing during legal vacations, emphasizing that Order 79 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules authorizes such proceedings. The Deputy Attorney-General also addressed lawyers who might refuse to attend courts during the vacation, stating that vacation judges can proceed with cases and clients should be informed of the potential consequences.