Lawyer and Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has outlined the formal disciplinary procedure the General Legal Council (GLC) is expected to follow in response to a recent petition filed against former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame.
The petition accuses Mr Dame of alleged professional misconduct and urges the GLC to consider imposing appropriate sanctions, as provided under Section 16 of the Legal Profession Act. These include reprimand, suspension, or even striking off one’s name from the roll of lawyers.
In an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Thursday, May 22, Mr Assafuah detailed the legally mandated steps the GLC must undertake, as set out in the Legal Profession (Disciplinary Committee) Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2424), and the Legal Profession Act, 1960.
Read also: Godfred Yeboah Dame reported to General Legal Council for alleged misconduct
Initial Steps Upon Receiving Petition
“First and foremost, once a petition is lodged against a lawyer in good standing, it is submitted to the General Legal Council,” Mr Assafuah explained. “The Council then forms a Disciplinary Committee, usually composed of individuals who have held, or are qualified to hold, high judicial office.”
According to him, the next step is to determine whether there is prima facie evidence warranting further inquiry into the allegations. This preliminary assessment helps the committee decide whether to proceed with a full investigation, he said.
[embedded content]He added that once the Disciplinary Committee is formed, the petition is forwarded to the lawyer in question—Mr Dame, in this case, is required to submit a written response within two weeks. That response is then sent back to the complainant, who may submit a rebuttal.
“Following these exchanges, the committee evaluates whether to commence a formal inquiry. If it decides to proceed, a decision will ultimately be reached,” Mr Assafuah said.
Possible Outcomes and Right of Appeal
Should the allegations be upheld, disciplinary measures may include suspension from legal practice for a specified period or being struck off the roll of lawyers entirely. However, the affected lawyer has the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal within 21 days.
Mr Assafuah added that in certain cases, if new information emerges or other considerations apply, the GLC retains the authority to reinstate a lawyer whose name was previously removed from the roll.
The entire process is governed by the Legal Profession (Disciplinary Committee) Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2424) and the Legal Profession Act, 1960. These regulations ensure due process and uphold professional standards within Ghana’s legal community, he indicated.
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