The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has appealed to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie to ensure that established rules and traditions governing Ghana’s legal vacation are respected.
The call follows complaints from three law firms after lawyers were reportedly served notices directing them to appear before designated judges to continue hearing part-heard criminal cases during the legal vacation.
The affected law firms are Zoe, Akyea & Co, Dame & Partners, and Sam Okudzeto & Associates.
In a letter dated Monday, August 10, 2026, the GBA said the second legal vacation runs from August 1 to September 30, in accordance with Order 79, Rule 4 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47).
According to the Association, the legal vacation is designed to give judges, lawyers and judicial staff an opportunity to rest after the demanding second term of the legal year.
GBA Raises Concerns Over Court Hearings During Vacation
The Ghana Bar Association acknowledged that some courts are designated as Vacation Courts to handle urgent legal matters during the period.
However, the Association stressed that the traditional role of Vacation Courts has been to deal mainly with interlocutory applications and emergency matters, rather than conducting full trials.
The GBA further argued that the availability of legal counsel should be taken into consideration before cases are scheduled during the legal vacation.
It said a case should not proceed where the lawyer representing either party is unavailable.
The Association also warned that an accused person should not be compelled to represent themselves in court simply because their lawyer is unavailable during the legal vacation.
“Innocent parties in a trial, civil or criminal ought not be coerced by a Judge to represent themselves,” the GBA stated.
GBA Warns Against Possible Concerns Over Fair Trial
The Association cautioned that continuing court proceedings despite the absence of legal counsel could raise concerns about judicial fairness, bias and selective justice.
It also pointed to the increasing workload faced by lawyers following the introduction of afternoon court sittings, saying the additional hearings have placed further demands on legal practitioners.
According to the GBA, some lawyers have existing professional commitments during the legal vacation, while certain law firms have also officially closed for the period.
The Association therefore urged the Judiciary of Ghana to respect the established rules, practices and traditions governing the legal vacation.
The GBA reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Judiciary to strengthen justice delivery in Ghana and expressed confidence that the concerns raised in its petition would receive favourable consideration.
Source: newsthemegh.com