By Adnan Adams Mohammed
In a major address calling for practical reforms within Ghana’s legal system, Chief of Staff Dr. Julius Debrah, speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, launched the maiden Ghana Law Society Annual Bar Conference with a clear demand: turn legal theory into everyday justice for citizens and businesses.
Addressing members and leadership of the newly established legal body in Accra, Dr. Debrah highlighted that the ultimate test of any judicial system lies in how easily an average citizen can access it. He noted that an elegant legal framework is meaningless if justice remains prohibitively expensive, slow, or out of reach for ordinary Ghanaians.
While welcoming the Ghana Law Society as a fresh, vital space for legal scholarship, policy discussion, and mentorship, Dr. Debrah also offered a stern word of caution regarding institutional integrity.
“Professional legal bodies must guard against political capture and partisan conflict,” Dr. Debrah stated during his keynote. “Credibility for both new and established institutions is earned through consistent conduct and impartial service to the public.”
Dr. Debrah linked the administration’s broader economic vision, including the drive toward a competitive 24-hour economy, directly to the health of the justice system. He explained that commercial growth, agricultural investment, and digital innovation rely heavily on clear land tenure, fast contract enforcement, and predictable regulation for emerging fields like artificial intelligence and digital assets.
Reflecting on recent legislative achievements such as the Legal Education Act 2026, the Community Service Act 2026, and the expansion of digital virtual courtrooms, Dr. Debrah set out five key action areas for the legal fraternity:
● Expanding Access to Justice: Boosting legal aid, court-connected dispute resolution, small claims procedures, and accommodations for non-English speakers and persons with disabilities.
● Economic Predictability: Establishing clear commercial regulations to support business operations around the clock.
● Constitutional Discipline: Enforcing strict oversight on public finance, citing the landmark Kpodo and Kwashie v. Attorney-General Supreme Court ruling.
● Criminal Justice Reform: Actively utilizing non-custodial sentencing options under the Community Service Act 2026.
● Future-Proofing the Bar: Training legal professionals to handle modern challenges like cybersecurity, data privacy, and climate risk.
“The true measure of legal reform occurs at police stations, local courts, and regulatory offices, where improved everyday encounters build lasting public confidence in the Republic,” Dr. Debrah added.
Closing his address, Dr. Debrah challenged the Ghana Law Society to go beyond traditional post-conference communiqués by submitting fully drafted policy proposals, complete with legislative clauses and cost estimates, directly to the Office of the President and the Attorney General.
