Ghana Bar Association urges Chief Justice to protect lawyers during legal vacation

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has called on Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to ensure that judges follow Ghana’s established rules and traditions governing the legal vacation, after complaints that lawyers are being compelled to appear in court despite declaring themselves unavailable.

In a letter dated Monday, 10 August 2026, and addressed to the Chief Justice, the GBA said the legal vacation runs from 1 August to 30 September. It explained that the period is intended to give judges, lawyers and judicial staff time to recover after the demanding court calendar.

The association said it recognised that designated Vacation Courts could continue sitting during the break to deal with urgent and interlocutory matters. However, it stressed that the longstanding practice was for Vacation Courts not to conduct trials, especially in circumstances where a lawyer’s absence could prevent effective participation in proceedings.

The GBA said that when a lawyer informs a court that they cannot attend during the legal vacation, the matter should be adjourned instead of being heard without counsel.

“Counsels are not under any compulsion whatsoever to appear before a Vacation Court. Once Counsel in a matter indicates their unavailability to attend Court during the vacation, even though the Court may have listed their case, it cannot proceed with the case in any way if Counsel on either side or on both sides indicate their inability to proceed with the scheduled matter in Court during the vacation,” the GBA said.

The association’s intervention follows concerns raised by three law firms, including Messrs Zoe, Akyea, who represent former National Signals Bureau boss Adu Boahen. The firms complained about notices directing their lawyers to attend court before judges to continue the hearing of part-heard criminal cases during the current legal vacation.

According to the GBA, forcing lawyers to appear when they have already indicated that they are unavailable undermines the purpose of the vacation and breaks with established judicial practice.

The association has therefore asked the Chief Justice to take steps to ensure that the longstanding rules and traditions surrounding the legal vacation are respected by the courts.

It said maintaining the established approach would protect the purpose of the legal vacation while also giving lawyers a fair opportunity to participate effectively in proceedings when court matters resume.

The GBA’s position does not challenge the ability of Vacation Courts to deal with urgent or interlocutory applications during the period. Instead, it seeks to ensure that such sittings do not extend to trials where counsel on either side has notified the court that they are unable to attend.