Kpebu urges GBA, judges to negotiate solution to legal vacation dispute
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called for negotiations between the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Association of Judges and Magistrates to resolve the disagreement over how court proceedings should be handled during the legal vacation.
Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, has urged the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Association of Judges and Magistrates to negotiate a resolution to their ongoing disagreement over court proceedings during the legal vacation. The dispute arose from GBA's concerns about directives obligating lawyers to attend Vacation Courts despite acknowledging their unavailability during the vacation period.
The Association has requested Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to uphold traditional practices concerning the legal vacation. This conflict has intensified following the Chief Justice's refusal to grant requests by lawyers representing Kwabena Adu-Boahen and Hanan Abdul-Wahab to postpone their cases until October. These lawyers cited prior engagements during the vacation and sought case adjournments until post-vacation.
Dr Justice Srem-Sai contended that lawyers' primary obligation is to their clients, and litigants' interests should supersede lawyers' desire for a vacation. On Citi FM, Kpebu suggested the parties refrain from escalating the dispute publicly and instead seek a negotiated agreement. He emphasized the need for the GBA and the Association of Judges and Magistrates to collaborate and establish a consistent framework for lawyers with cases scheduled before Vacation Courts, thereby ensuring uniformity and clarity for all parties involved.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
