Spearhead The Establishment Of A Reputable Legal System – Bawumia To Legal Service Board
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has charged the newly constituted nine member legal service board to spearhead the establishment of an efficient, reputable, and well-motivated legal service sector in the country.
The legal service board per the Act that established the board, legal service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 320), serves as a body required “to advise the President on the matters connected with the structure and conduct of the affairs of the Service and in particular, in relation to the recruitment, appointment, promotion, discipline, dismissal and any other conditions of service of officers in the Service.
Addressing members of the board after administering the official oath and the oath of Secrecy to them at the Jubilee House today the 11th of October 2021, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia noted that the presidency is looking forward to receiving the advice of the board on matters connected with the structure and conduct of the affairs of the service, in particular, in relation to the recruitment, appointment, promotion, discipline and dismissal and any other conditions of service for officers of the legal service.
“Ghana cannot afford to have a legal service that is made up of people whose competence and diligence to work are in doubt. As a member of the comity of nations, we must always be above our peers when it comes to the provision of legal services for the State. Having a competent workforce will have a positive multiplier effect on other sectors of our political economy” Vice PresidentMahamuduBawumia said.
“It is my belief that this newly inaugurated board will work together as gladiators to lead the legal service in carrying out its statutory responsibilities to help create and sustain, a reputable legal system which will enhance speedy and affordable access to justice for the people of Ghana” Vice President Bawumia added.
Board Chair
The chairman of the legal service board and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic, Godfred Yeboah Dame, in his acceptance speech on behalf of the entire board assure the Vice President that they will work very hard to prove themselves equal to the task entrusted to them by the State. He called on the Vice President to be the lead advocate in government for the improvement of the conditions of service for the staff of the Attorney General’s department.
“Indeed, we are also mindful of the support the government has extended to us this year especially by way of extra-budgetary support. Your personal inauguration of this board indeed speaks or underscores the importance that the government places on the legal service board” GodfredDamesaid.
“We consider you (Vice President Bawumia) to be in it with us as you have personally inaugurated us, and we will not hesitate to call upon you and we also urge you to be our chief advocate in ensuring an improvement on the conditions of service of the office of the Attorney General” the Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame added.
Members of the Board
The nine-member board has Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney-General, as its chairman. Members of the board also include the two Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Ms. Diana Asonaba Dapaah.
The other members are Ms. Helen Akpene Awo Ziwu, the Solicitor-General, Justice Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Dr. Janet Ampadu Fofie, Chairperson of the Public Services Commission, Mr. Kwaku Gyau, representative of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr. Daniel Kwaku Tweneboah Asirifi, and Mrs. Sylvia Assimeng Archer, both of whom are nominees of the President of the Republic to the board.