Legal vacation: Ayikoi Otoo says compelling lawyers to appear in court is unfair

According to Mr Otoo, while the High Court rules may give the Chief Justice the authority to issue directions concerning court sittings during the legal vacation, such powers should be exercised sparingly and with regard to established legal practice.

Mr Otoo said his own experience over more than four decades in the legal profession had not exposed him to a situation where Chief Justices routinely directed lawyers to appear during the legal vacation, particularly in high-profile cases.

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) appealed to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to ensure that judges uphold the established rules and traditions governing Ghana’s legal vacation, particularly in cases where lawyers have indicated that they are unavailable to appear in court.