The image of our judiciary has deteriorated so badly, that many of our citizens openly make mockery of our justice system and our justices. The phrase “go to court”is these days met with derisive laughter instead of hope that one will truly get justice at the court. These were the words of former president John Mahama.
We can see the picture being painted about our legal system. This system is supposed to be a key component of Ghanaian democratic way of life, removing any form of vulnerability, but it has instead become a system that favors the chosen few, protects them, and intimidates others of the majority of the working class. Because of these factors, wishing to attend law school is akin to wishing to become a “professional thief” in the future. In the midst of a growing debate for the expansion and reform of Ghana’s legal education system, I am not surprised to hear the attorney general, Godfred Dame, himself say that practicing law is a privilege, not a right.
This causes the country’s focus to shift to legal education. To address all of the negative comments made at the law school, we must first address the source of the problem. Meanwhile, conversations about legal reform gained traction after 499 students were denied admission to the school.It has since practically stopped being news. The auditor general’s report on the judges of the highest court has only recently made headlines. This is turning into a joke and harming the chief justices’ standing.
I subsequently questioned myself why it appeared that the current administration was not making an attempt to straighten the bend rods in the justice system but rather was leveraging it to her own advantage. Future generations of our generation will suffer greatly as a result of their ignorance.The general legal council exists to frighten lawyers who oppose this administration, which is considerably more than a simple civilian like me. This is neither surprising nor shocking, but it is nevertheless obvious.
Since the president is an upholder and a lawyer, these queries and uncertainties are not meant to be entertained in thinking. a man who attended law school so that he might treat his fellow human beings fairly. It is now undeniable that his decision to go law school was made in order to realize his future ambitions.
But the question remains, is the court system going to be improved, to earn the populace’s confidence or trust?
Written By: Etornam Axandrah, 18plus4NDC