The Presiding Judge of the Adenta Circuit Court 1, Her Honour Angela Attachie, has cautioned lawyers to use the law and established ethical procedures to address grievances arising from court decisions rather than attacking judges.

She urged lawyers to desist from attempting to dictate how judges should act, stressing that there are legitimate legal avenues for challenging court decisions.

According to her, anyone dissatisfied with a ruling has the right to appeal to a higher court rather than resorting to public attacks, insults or threats against judges.

Her Honour Angela Attachie, who said she had personally come under attack over some of her rulings, stressed that the law provides mechanisms for addressing grievances against judicial decisions.

She noted that if the Ghana Bar Association paid closer attention to such conduct, some lawyers could face disciplinary action.

The judge also expressed concern about the conduct of some politicians who are lawyers, saying some resort to the media to “play to the gallery” instead of using the appropriate legal channels to challenge court decisions.

She said she had personally experienced attacks over some of her decisions at the Adenta Circuit Court 1.

She cited the case involving Abronye, saying she received threats from individuals over the matter, even though, according to her, he had never appeared before her court.

She revealed that the threats had compelled her to move with a bodyguard, although, under the applicable arrangements, a Circuit Court judge is not ordinarily entitled to one.

Her Honour Angela Attachie therefore appealed to the public to desist from threatening or attacking judges, stressing that judges consider the facts and evidence before them rather than the personalities involved in cases.

She emphasised that judges also have families and should not be subjected to threats and insults simply because someone disagrees with a court ruling.

The Presiding Judge made the remarks in an interview with the media during the inauguration of the KAAF University Faculty of Law Advisory Board, where she represented the Chief Justice, Justice Baffoe Bonnie.

She explained that the Advisory Board had been established to guide, mentor and advise the Faculty of Law to attain higher standards, with several Court of Appeal judges serving on the board.

Meanwhile, a Justice of the Court of Appeal and member of the Advisory Board, Justice Nana Yaw Barima Koddie Oppong, who spoke on behalf of the Board Chairperson, Professor Lydia A. Nkansah, said members of the board would work professionally with the management of KAAF University to achieve the objectives of the Faculty of Law.

Members of the KAAF University Faculty of Law Advisory Board

• Professor Lydia A. Nkansah, Esq. – Associate Professor of Law, Chairperson
• Justice Edward Amoako Asante – Justice, Court of Appeal, Vice Chairperson
• Justice Dr Richmond Osei-Hwere – Justice, Court of Appeal, Committee Member
• Justice Nana Yaw Barima Koddie Oppong – Justice, Court of Appeal, Member
• Justice Francis Obiri – Justice, Court of Appeal, Committee Member
• Mr Julius Erasmus Opoku Agyei, Esq. – Senior Legal Practitioner, Committee Member
• Mr Tawia Yaw Akyea, Esq. – Senior Legal Practitioner, Committee Member
• Mr Raymond Felli, Esq. – Legal Practitioner, Committee Member
• Mr Charles Nana Osei-Bonsu, Esq. – Senior Legal Practitioner, Dean and Committee Member

For his part, the Council Chair of KAAF University, Professor K. B. Omane-Antwi, said the university was focused on producing ethical lawyers who could become authentic leaders in society.

According to him, the country needs lawyers who command public confidence, particularly at a time when public trust in the legal profession appears to be declining.

He said KAAF University had therefore placed strong emphasis on ethics in its law programme to ensure that its graduates stand out as responsible and principled professionals.