A member of the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council has justified the three-year ban on a popular Human Rights lawyer Francis Xavier Sosu for breaching professional rules.
The legal practitioner was found guilty of four charges - excessive legal fees, an over- estimation of services, failing to appear before the committee and advertising which is against the GLC Professional Conduct and Etiquette Rules, 1969 (LI 613).
The ban slapped on the lawyer has received traction on social media with many concerned it was excessive and harsh.
Explaining the GLC decision, the former President of the Ghana Bar Association Sam Okudzeto said the disciplinary committee includes no less a person than the incoming Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo.
He suggested the composition of the 9-member panel should inform the public about the quality of deliberations that went into the decision.
Sam Okudzeto revealed Francis Xavier Sosu was his former student like many others he has taught in law school.
"You know something funny? He was my student, many of them are my students...they come daily to the committee and I look at their face and say 'was that what I taught you?' The lawyer with 55 years at the bar remains convinced the conduct of the young lawyer merited the sanctions.
"It is not a mean thing," he said explaining, the greatest benefit of the ban is in the deterring effect it is likely to have on lawyers. “If we are not harsh and tough in disciplining them, then what we are doing is opening the floodgate so everybody can do what they like”. He was emphatic, there are "lots" and "loads" of cases like the Sosu case before the Legal Council.
Sam Okudzeto, a stickler for rules, complained about rising levels of dishonesty and "all manner of disgraceful things" bringing the profession into disrepute.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Koliko and Sure should bear in mind that Sam Okudzeto is not the only person in the committee. Atleast you people should respect his age and retract the insults rain on him. The fact that he is an Eve or Ada does't mean he should support any ***barred word*** behaviour of people from his region. Not all the Lawyers in the country are Akans.
This is political Npp big wigs in that council took this decision to show this guy where the power lies, this ***barred word*** old man who did not do any thing for his people and only personal greed is killing him
ffolish old man.this is probably the last fffoolish old man remaining in ghana. always following akans to victimise ur Ewe people for ur greedy stomach
Every lawyer in the ndc is dishonest. From A-Z and even Papa JJ the owner of the ndc attest to that. Every educated person in the ndc is dishonest they dislike the truth because they fear it. I'm glad there are still people around who love this country and are bent to defend and protect it from the hands of kriminals in political suits and wigs. It shall be well with Ghana. The nation wreckers in the ndc will fail.