The Association of Ghanaian Lawyers of America (AGLA) has conferred honorary membership on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Ghana, Betty Mould-Iddrisu. This was at a special dinner held in her honor in Midtown Manhattan, New York, on May 4, 2010. Appointed by President John Evans Atta-Mills in 2009, Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu is the first woman in Ghana's 53-year history to serve in those roles. AGLA presented to Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu a plaque with a gavel etched on it, a symbol of law and authority. Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu thanked AGLA for all of its work on behalf of Ghanaians at home and in the Diaspora and welcomed AGLA's commitment to support Ghana's efforts to strengthen the rule of law and encourage foreign investment into the country. The administration sees lawyers and the legal profession as playing a key and crucial role in reinforcing the rule of law and democratic governance in our country,² said the attorney general. During the evening¹s festivities, Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu presided over a wide-ranging discussion of legal, social and civic issues, including constitutional reform and government transparency. AGLA responded to Mrs. Iddrisu's call to become more involved in Ghana¹s legal development by agreeing to explore ways in which it could assist in the administration's democratization efforts. The Attorney General's delegation also included legal consultant and KNUST Law School faculty member, Professor Kofi Abotsi and Eli Agbemava, a state attorney. Also in attendance were His Excellency, Leslie Kojo Christian, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the UN; Associate Clinical Professor Paolo Galizzi, Director of Sustainable Legal Initiative at Fordham Law School's Leitner Center for International Law and Justice; Adjunct Professor of Law/Librarian Victor Essien, also of Fordham Law School; International Marketing Specialist Tess M. Serranti of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and Kwabena Osei-Danquah, Chief, Executive Board and External Relations Branch, UNPF. We are ecstatic to be called upon to join the efforts being made at home, said AGLA president, Kwaku Boafoh Agyeman. AGLA vice president, Abena Darkeh, observed that, as a woman and an attorney, I¹m particularly proud that AGLA is honoring Attorney General Mould-Iddrisu. She's a strong and inspiring woman. Our hopes for her are high. The event drew a sizable crowd including several members who are licensed to practice law both in the US and Ghana. AGLA, a non-profit organization was established to provide a forum for Ghanaian lawyers in United States to address matters relevant to their profession, to advocate and support the advancement of Ghana and its people while serving as a dominant link between Ghana and the United States. For more information please visit AGLA¹s website www.ghanalawyersusa.com